Word: countesses
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...merits of words and music-and it might just as aptly have been summed up under the title Six Characters in Search of an Opera. In a rococo salon near Paris, the six main figures sit chatting for the whole of one golden, 18th century afternoon-a Count and Countess, a Musician and a Poet, a Director and an Actress. The Poet and the Musician, both in love with the Countess, plead their special skills ("The poetic spirit is the mirror of the world!" sings the Poet; "The sounds of nature sing at the cradle of the arts!" replies...
...wanes the six decide to compose an opera based on the afternoon's talk, and the Countess is finally left with the agonizing task of choosing between Poetry and Music- Poet and Composer. In a gently ironic ending she looks deep into her mirror and finds that she can make no choice-her two loves...
...first time, it proves to be one of Strauss's most fascinating works. Too static for the stage, it is studded with passages of surpassing orchestral and vocal beauty: the sweetly melancholy string sextet that serves as an overture; the delicately interlaced trio in which Musician, Poet and Countess comment on the Poet's sonnet; the Countess' hushed mirror monologue at the close, with its spun-silver vocal tracery. The performers-notably sopranos Elizabeth Schwarzkopf and Anna Moffo, baritones Hans Hotter and Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau-sing superbly under Conductor Wolfgang Sawallisch. In its flashing orchestral coloration...
Later at night, the Count, still in nun's garb, slips into the countess' bedroom and, by mistake, makes love to his own page, who has dressed himself up as a woman, while the countess observes from the sidelines...
Goldovsky has assembled a highly capable young company of solo singers and choristers; and some of them can even act. In this production, John McCollum is as fine a Count Ory as one could want. Ewan Harbrecht, as Countess Adele, has a small but beautifully trained voice, and tosses off all her demanding fioriture with complete case. Ronald Holgate (The Tutor) has a rich bass voice; all he needs now is to strengthen his bottom register. David Smith (Raimbaud) has a pleasingly full timbre, as has Doris Okerson (Ragonda) when she gets over her initial edginess...