Great Performances

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[ Chatter ] -Hello.

I'm bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green.

Welcome to today's transmission of "Arabella," Richard Strauss's classic opera that tests the boundaries of love and fidelity.

And it all unfolds in the atmospheric sets of 19th-century Vienna created by the late legendary director Otto Schenk.

Strauss composed some of the greatest roles for soprano voice in the operatic repertoire, and many great Strauss sopranos, such as Rene Fleming and Kiri Te Kanawa, consider Arabella among their favorites.

The role demands both a psychologically nuanced interpretation and glorious outpouring of sound.

Today, soprano Rachel Willis-Sorensen brings her rich voice and captivating presence to the title role of the young noblewoman.

In the opera, the aristocratic Arabella is pushed by her financially struggling parents to marry into wealth, but she can't help longing for true love.

When she meets Mandryka, the rugged but wealthy outdoorsman played by bass-baritone Tomasz Konieczny, she believes she's found both.

Soprano Louise Alder is Arabella's loving sister Zdenka, who, to save her parents money, passes in society for a young man, creating complications of operatic proportions.

Maestro Nicholas Carter is ready to go to the pit.

Here is "Arabella."

-Maestro to the pit, please.

Maestro to the pit.

Thank you.

[ Applause ] [ Applause ] -[ Gasps ] [ Grunts ] - Adieu [ Applause ] [ Sleigh bells jingling ] [ Sleigh bells jingling ] -[ Gasps ] [ Bell dings ] - Papa [ Sleigh bells jingling ] - Come [ Applause ] -At the end of the previous act, Mandryka had given Arabella's father financial hope, and in the next act, Arabella and Mandryka finally meet.

But this is not a simple fairy tale of love at first sight.

Here is the Act 2 of "Arabella."

[ Applause ] [ Applause ] -[ Clears throat ] -[ Vocalizing ] [ Vocalizing ] -Ohh!

-[ Laughs ] [ Vocalizing ] [ Vocalizing ] -[ Sighs ] -[ Vocalizing ] [ Vocalizing ] - Adieu - Nein Nein -[ Speaking German ] -[ Vocalizing ] -[ Grunts ] -[ Vocalizing ] [ Vocalizing ] -[ Vocalizing ] [ Applause ] -With the last act ending in turmoil, Strauss has us on the edge of our seats as to what's to come.

All I can say is that there are some surprises in store.

Here is the unpredictable conclusion of "Arabella."

[ Applause ] [ Bell rings ] - Oh, Arabella [ Bell rings ] - Nein -[ Speaking German ] -Papa!

Mama!

- Arabella [ Cheers and applause ] [ Cheers and applause continues ] [ Cheers and applause continues ] [ Cheers and applause continues ] [ Cheers and applause continues ] [ Cheers and applause continues ] [ Cheers and applause continues ] [ Cheers and applause continues ] [ Cheers and applause continues ] [ Cheers and applause continues ] [ Cheers and applause continues ] [ Cheers and applause continues ] -Arabella!

[ Cheers and applause continues ] [ Cheers and applause continues ] [ Cheers and applause continues ]