Afternoon at the Opera: Strauss’ Arabella

Tune in every Saturday at Noon, for The Metropolitan Opera hosted by Debra Lew Harder.

Season Finale: Richard Strauss’ Arabella is full of his usual gorgeous music, weaving folk melodies with modern orchestration.  Yet there is none of the darker themes that he has come to be known for: instead, the work is one of his few lyrical comedies. Camilla Nylund stars in the titular role with Sabine Devieilhe playing her sister Zdenka and Michael Volle acting as love interest Mandryka. Also among the cast are Margaret Plummer, Wolfgang Bankl, and Michael Laurenz. Christian Thielemann conducts the Vienna State Opera Chorus and Orchestra.