
Der Rosenkavalier
Love. Lust. Devotion. Aging.
In the decadent world of Vienna, a story of romantic entanglements unfolds between a youthful nobleman, his mature mistress, and a young woman engaged to be married to an older Baron. Who is to give in or give up their heart?
Act I
Vienna. The Marschallin, Princess von Werdenberg, and the young Octavian, Count Rofrano, rise regretfully from her bed, where they have spent the night. At a sound in the hallway – perhaps the Marschallin’s husband – Octavian hides and disguises himself as a chambermaid. The Marschallin’s cousin, Baron Ochs auf Lerchenau, enters asking her whether she has given thought to his letter, in which he asked her to choose a Rosenkavalier – Knight of the Rose – to take the customary silver symbol to the woman Ochs has decided to marry, Sophie, the daughter of the very wealthy and recently ennobled Herr von Faninal. She suggests Octavian and shows Ochs his picture. Ochs cannot help but see the resemblance to “Mariandel,” the maid, whom he shamelessly pursues.
The Marschallin holds her morning levée, during which she is addressed by an animal vendor, a milliner, three noble orphans, and two Italian scandalmongers, and sung to by an Italian tenor. Ochs browbeats the notary into drawing up a marriage contract. Losing his temper, he interrupts the tenor’s song. The Marschallin sends everyone away, but not before Ochs has left her with the silver rose – and engaged the intriguers, Valzacchi and Annina, to secure him an assignation with “Mariandel.” The Marschallin muses on the passing of time.
Octavian returns, dressed as himself, and notes the Marschallin’s melancholy mood. She assures him he will leave her for a younger woman. He naturally protests, and she sends him away. When she realizes they have parted without a goodbye kiss, she sends her footman after him, but he has already ridden away. She calls her page to take the rose to him.
Act II
Faninal’s salon. Sophie waits excitedly with her duenna, Marianne. Octavian brings the rose to Sophie and both are smitten. The real suitor enters and Sophie is appalled by the Baron’s rude manners. Ochs goes into an adjoining room with the notary and Sophie and Octavian agree that she must not marry Ochs. As they move to embrace, they are caught by Valzacchi and Annina, who call for the Baron. Octavian challenges him to a duel and wounds him lightly on the arm, at which Ochs shouts bloody murder.
He is cheered when left to rest with a bandage and Faninal’s wine. Annina returns with a note inviting him to a rendezvous with “Mariandel” that evening. He accepts with delight but does not tip her.
Act III
A room in an inn. Octavian, now helped by Annina and Valzacchi, sets a stageworthy scene for the confounding of Ochs. The Baron and “Mariandel” soon meet for a private supper, but strange figures appear from trap doors and windows, making Ochs think he sees ghosts. Suddenly a woman dressed in mourning bursts from a blind window, claiming to be Ochs’s deserted wife. It is Annina in disguise, followed by a herd of children screaming, “Papa!” The innkeeper and servants rush in. Finally Ochs calls the police, and claims that “Mariandel” is his fiancée Sophie. Faninal arrives, furious, and sends for the real Sophie. At the height of the confusion, the Marschallin appears. The Police Commissary recognizes her – he was once her husband’s orderly–and she easily explains that this was all a farce. She insists that Ochs leave Vienna, and he does, pursued by Annina and the children, the innkeeper, and his creditors. Now the Marschallin is left with undecided Octavian and anxious Sophie. The day she predicted has come. Quietly she leaves them alone together.

Rachel Willis-Sørensen
Soprano
Marschallin
Rachel Willis-Sørensen
Hometown: Tri-Cities, WA
2024 Season:
Marschallin, Der Rosenkavalier
SFO Debut:
First Lady, The Magic Flute, 2010
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 2010

Matthew Rose
Bass
Baron Ochs
Matthew Rose
Hometown: Brighton, England
2024 Season:
Baron Ochs, Der Rosenkavalier
SFO Debut:
Leporello, Don Giovanni, 2009

Paula Murrihy
Mezzo-soprano
Octavian
Paula Murrihy
Hometown: Limerick, Ireland
2024 Season:
Octavian, Der Rosenkavalier
SFO Debut:
Second Lady, The Magic Flute, 2006
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 2006
Past Seasons:
La Messaggera, Orfeo, 2023 (through August 16)
Ruggiero, Alcina, 2017
Prince Orlovsky, Die Fledermaus, 2017 (July 14 & August 1)

Ying Fang
Soprano
Sophie (through August 8)
Ying Fang
Hometown: Ningbo, China
2024 Season:
Sophie, Der Rosenkavalier
SFO Debut:
Susanna, The Marriage of Figaro, 2021

Liv Redpath
Soprano
Sophie (August 15)
Liv Redpath
Hometown: Edina, MN
2024 Season:
Zerlina, Don Giovanni
Sophie, Der Rosenkavalier (August 15)
SFO Debut:
Zerbinetta, Ariadne auf Naxos, 2018
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 2017

Zachary Nelson
Baritone
Faninal
Zachary Nelson
Hometown: Annapolis, MD
2024 Season:
Faninal, Der Rosenkavalier
SFO Debut:
Figaro, The Marriage of Figaro, 2013
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 2012
Past Seasons:
Golaud, Pelléas et Mélisande, 2023
Marcello, La bohème, 2019
Lord Enrico Ashton, Lucia di Lammermoor, 2017
Dr. Malatesta, Don Pasquale, 2014
Cesare Angelotti, Tosca, 2012
The Pearl Fishers, 2012
Maometto II, 2012
King Roger, 2012
Arabella, 2012

David Portillo
Tenor
Italian Singer
David Portillo
Hometown: San Antonio, TX
2024 Season:
Don Ottavio, Don Giovanni
Italian Singer, Der Rosenkavalier
SFO Debut:
Jon Harker, The Lord of Cries, 2021

Gerhard Siegel
Tenor
Valzacchi
Gerhard Siegel
Hometown: Trostberg, Germany
2024 Season:
Valzacchi, Der Rosenkavalier, (SFO Debut)

Megan Marino
Mezzo-Soprano
Annina
Megan Marino
Hometown: Columbia, SC
2024 Season:
Annina, Der Rosenkavalier
SFO Debut:
Suzuki, Madama Butterfly, 2018
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 2013, 2015
Past Seasons:
Meg Page, Falstaff, 2022
Cherubino, The Marriage of Figaro, 2021
Page of Herodias, Salome, 2015
Claire, Cold Mountain, 2015

Scott Conner
Bass
Police Commissar
Scott Conner
Hometown: Olathe, KS
2024 Season:
Police Commissar, Der Rosenkavalier
SFO Debut:
Mustafà, The Italian Girl in Algiers, 2018
Past Seasons:
Pistola, Falstaff, 2022

Karina Canellakis
Conductor
Karina Canellakis
Hometown: New York, NY
2024 Season:
Der Rosenkavalier, (SFO Debut)

Bruno Ravella
Director
Bruno Ravella
Hometown: Casablanca, Morocco
2024 Season:
Der Rosenkavalier, (SFO Debut)

Gary McCann
Scenic & Costume Designer
Gary McCann
Hometown: Portadown, Northern Ireland
2024 Season:
Der Rosenkavalier
SFO Debut:
The Golden Cockerel, 2017
Past Seasons:
Eugene Onegin, 2021

Malcolm Rippeth
Lighting Designer
Malcolm Rippeth
Hometown: London, England
2024 Season:
Der Rosenkavalier
SFO Debut:
Capriccio, 2016
Past Seasons:
Rusalka, 2023
Alcina, 2017