This is a 1976 Rotterdam performance of Der Rosenkavalier conducted by
Edo de Waart. It was relatively early in his career, as it was also for
Frederica von Stade (Octavian),
Ruth Welting (Sophie), and
José Carreras, who appears as the Singer in Act 1. The veterans in the cast were
Evelyn Lear as the Marshallin and
Jules Bastin as Baron Ochs, both very familiar with
Strauss' music and these characters. The cast is neither so inexperienced that the subtleties of the text, music, and drama are lost on them, nor so experienced that the roles have become routine. The women's voices are well matched, blending beautifully in the final trio and duet.
Bastin is notable as Ochs, making him sound not like a total buffoon, but a man with a strong, self-serving nature. The performance as a whole is charming, and you can imagine the action that takes place in each scene without too much difficulty. From the beginning,
de Waart leads the music with a clear idea of where he is going next; it never drags, and it never rushes any more than necessary to keep the action moving at a good pace. The youthfulness of most of these performers plus the practiced skills of the veterans makes this a lively and rewarding recording.