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I started by indicating how sacrosanct this opera seems to be.

Unfortunately, on this occasion, the pantomime aspects of the opera with Baron Ochs, Valzacchi and Annina left me cold. The three musical high-spots of this opera: the Act 1 finale, the presentation of the rose and the Act 3 trio are meltingly beautiful.

I ought to add that my criticism applies only to their dramatic interpretations of the roles. Susan Graham, as Octavian, does not convince, either as a man or dressed up as the maid Mariandel. Christine Schaffer looks rather lost as Sophie. Renée Fleming is perfect, as you would expect, as the Marschallin. The three female leads are, in theory, an ideal cast but collectively they lack chemistry.

Perhaps this is why repeated viewings of this opera produce a feeling of ennui that I do not experience with other works. Librettist Hugo von Hofmannsthal must have given very explicit stage directions since, in every version I have ever seen, the set is the same, the costumes are the same and all the details of the drama are identical. Der Rosenkavalier is one of my favourite operas but I must admit to finding this production rather tedious.