The Norwegian soprano, Lise Davidsen is a sensation, with a very full diary and accolades to match. Between her engagements at the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala and Bayreuth, she has taken time to record an unique concert with Norwegian Opera Orchestra under the baton of Edward Gardner. Filmed by Einar Film and staged by film director Eivind Holmboe, here is a new take on a solo recital. The resulting hybrid between concert and film gets us close to Lise, inside the iconic Norwegian National Opera and under the skin of three women from Richard Strauss's operas. Streamed on OperaVision on 8 March to mark International Women’s Day 2024.
Lise is indeed about three women in different phases of their lives, reflecting on who they are, where they are going, and what they have become. What became of the young girl I was, asks the mature Marschallin. We see Lise Davidsen as the heroine of Der Rosenkavalier and as two other strong women from the composer who was a master in writing for the soprano voice: Arabella and Ariadne. While the former wonders what or who she really longs for, the latter longs to lose herself to find again what was lost.
Lise Davidsen appears courtesy of Decca Classics.
Full performance streamed on OperaVision from 8 March 2024 at 19:00 CET to 8 September 2024 at 12:00 CET: https://operavision.eu/performance/lise
CAST
Soprano
Lise Davidsen
Orchestra
Norwegian National Opera Orchestra
Music
Richard Strauss
Text
Hugo von Hofmannsthal
Conductor
Edward Gardner
Director
Eivind Holmboe
Concert Master
Guro Kleven Hagen
Producer
Maria Costa
PROGRAMME
‘Da geht er hin’, Der Rosenkavalier
‘Mein Elemer’, Arabella
‘Ein Schönes war’, Ariadne auf Naxos
‘Es gibt ein Reich’, Ariadne auf Naxos
‘Die Zeit, die ist ein sonderbar Ding’, Der Rosenkavalier
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Arabella is the youngest one. She’s struggling to figure out who she’d actually
be with and choose: Elemer is the one that is actually in love with her – – and then there is this guy outside the window – – and she’s wondering: «hm, he looks much more interesting…» We don’t have pictures to help us – – the same way the movie has to sort of – – entertain in a much more social media kind of way – – where you get a lot of information in 15 seconds. Here we have an aria that lasts 5 minutes – – and i
t can be about one sentence, almost. But for me, that’s what I love about it:
The slow pace – I like that. Ariadne – she is left on Naxos – – by her boyfriend, or husband – – or love of her life. He’s not back and – – she is wondering when he will come back. And at least in my head she’s been there
so long that there is no other way out now – – that she’s reached a point where death might
be better than being in this misery – – where no one is coming for her – – or loving her the way she thought
. The Marschallin – – she is the oldest. In Strauss’s and this time – – what is she like – – a couple of years older than me. So it’s not like – – I would not say she’s old. She`s experienced. She talks about time – – how time is everywhere – – but now her lover is getting
married to someone else.
Comments
Absolutely beautiful. Particularly her singing of the Marschallin, such a perfect interpretation. I'd love so see her perform this sometime. Congratulations Lise Davidson !
I just saw her a couple of days ago in the Met movie theater showing of Forza. She has a very expressive face, and a glorious voice. I really enjoyed this presentation. The orchestra sounded gorgeous, and the theater itself is quite impressive. She is perfect for Strauss. Thank you so much.
Thank you so very much for giving us the opportunity to watch this concert film with Lise Davidson. Such a marvelous voice and great interpretations, very enjoyable, but sadly a far too short programme.
Lise sings so beautifully.
She is great in this repertoire.
So proud of being a Norwegian because of Lise Davidsen😅❤
tomorrow i am going to see her at the Met opera.
I saw her in il Tabarro last year in Barcelona, great voice ❤
Merci💖 👏👏👏
Nice to see this as i will see her today In Forza from the Met Live in HD
Uma voz magnífica! Precisa e comovente.
The Operavision description says there are English subtitles (and I've turned them on) but I'm not seeing them. Please fix.
❤❤❤
The film contains these excerpts: «Da geht er hin» Der Rosenkavalier, Op. 59 «Mein Elemer!» Arabella, Op. 79 «Ein schönes war» Ariadne auf Naxos, Op. 60 «Es gibt ein Reich» Ariadne auf Naxos, Op. 60 «Die Zeit, die ist ein sonderbar Ding» Der Rosenkavalier Op. 59 Music Richard Strauss Libretto Hugo von Hofmannsthal
Is there subtitles?
❤️🇱🇨!!!
Here's an English translation of «Mein Elemer!» from Arabella (the second aria): My Elemer! - It has such a strange sound. He my - I be. What is that, it's like, as if a fear attacked me - and a longing yes, after what in the world? After the Matteo? because he always says he can not live without me, and look at me with eyes like a child? After the Matteo, nothing in me yearns! A hesitation, then breaking out I want to see my stranger again! I would like to hear his voice once! - Then he would be like the others for me. - How does the Zdenka say: we have to wait until one chooses us, and otherwise we are lost. It's time for her to come in girl's clothes, the little one, she has such strange looks. If I'm married then she has to be with me. Married to the Elemer? What touches me as if I'm trampling on you? Is this the stranger with whom I have never spoken a word that attracts me in the dark? Lord God, he is certainly a married man and I shall and I will not see him again, And today is Faschingdienstag and in the evening is my ball - of which I am the Queen - and then ...
An interesting film, which could perhaps be trying to do too many things at once. The purpose is a worthy one - to demonstrate that Straussian opera offers great roles for women, and emotional depth in the characters it presents. I found this is a little hard to assimilate this to the hi-tech of the opera house itself, cool, monochrome, metallic grids, etc. In particular the spherical drone light that appears to Ariadne. Is it meant to be Hermes as psychopomp, ready to lead Adriane's soul away? If it is a meeting point of two realms, technological creation and artistic creation, it is taking a lot of interpretative weight. Lise Davidsen is impressive; I liked the emphasis on her stature. Maybe the characters she has created for us should have been left in the building, not following her out into the sun? (That seemed sentimental.) Anyway, I feel grateful to the filmmakers, there's a lot happening here.
Here's an English translation of «Es gibt ein Reich» from Ariadne auf Naxos (the fourth aria): There is a realm where all things are pure: It also has a name: Sheol [Land of the Dead] Here nothing is pure! This place, all came to all. Soon, however, comes a messenger Hermes, she called him. With his staff He ruled the souls: souls are like birds, but like dead leaves, He pushes them down. You are beautiful, silent God! See! Ariadne waits! Oh, all wild pain The heart must be cleaned; Then your face will nod to me If you step outside my cave, Darkness is on my eyes Your hand be upon my heart. In the beautiful ceremony dresses, Which my mother gave me, these limbs will remain, the silent cave is my grave. But my soul silently Followeth her new master, As a light sheet in the wind Follows down, follows so much You will free me, I give myself, This oppressive life You take it from me To you I shall lose myself completely Ariadne will be with you
Here's the English translation of «Da geht er hin» from Der Rosenkavalier (the first aria) There he goes, the bloated bad guy, and gets the pretty young thing and a pinkel money. As if it had to be like that. And it comes to mind that it is he who forgives something. What is it that makes me angry? That's the way of the world. Can I also remember a girl who is fresh from the convent commandered into the holy state. Where is it now? Yes, look for the snow from last year! That's what I say: But how can it really be that I was the little Resi and that I would be the old woman? The old woman, the old marshal! "Victory, there goes the old Princess Resi!" How can that happen? How does God do that? Where I am always the same. And if he has to do it, why does he let me watch it with such a clear sense! Why is not he hiding from me? It's all secret, so much secret. And you're there to endure it. And in the "how" there is the whole difference. https://www.opera-arias.com/strauss-r/der-rosenkavalier/libretto/english/