Der Rosenkavalier Live from Zurich

21 SEPT 2025: At Opernhaus Zürich, Lydia Steier’s staging and Joana Mallwitz’s musical direction bring fresh insights to Strauss’ bittersweet comedy.

Richard Strauss’ “Der Rosenkavalier” combines sparkling comedy, tender romance, and poignant reflections on the passing of time. In a fantasy Vienna of rococo elegance, Baron Ochs disrupts the Marschallin’s morning tryst with her young lover Octavian to enlist her help with his marriage plans –never suspecting that Octavian will fall in love with the bride-to-be, Sophie. Beneath the comic surface lies a bittersweet story of love, loss, and aging, culminating in the luminous final trio.

At the Opernhaus Zürich, American director Lydia Steier – renowned for bold, thought-provoking productions – presents a new staging of “Der Rosenkavalier”, with set and costume design by Austrian artist Gottfried Helnwein. At the podium, Joana Mallwitz leads the Orchester der Oper Zürich with clarity and freshness. The cast features Diana Damrau as the Marschallin, Günther Groissböck as Baron Ochs, Angela Brower as Octavian and Bo Skovhus as Herr von Faninal.

Richard Strauss
Comedy for music in three acts
Libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal

Lydia Steier, stage director
Joana Mallwitz, musical direction
Gottfried Helnwein, stage and costume design

Live delayed on ARTE and SRF (same evening)
September 21, 2025 | 8.50 pm
Opernhaus Zürich

A 4K HDR Production of Accentus Music
In Coproduction with Arte, SRG SSR, SRF