Richard Strauss’s *Capriccio* at the Teatro Real
06/23/2020
To appreciate one of Madrid’s most iconic buildings, there is no better way to visit it than for the purpose for which it was designed. The Teatro Real’s production of Richard Strauss’s opera *Capriccio* offers just such an opportunity, taking place between late May and early June. The majestic setting, the acoustics, the romantic music of Richard Strauss – what better way to discover one of Madrid’s main cultural attractions with all the pomp and ceremony that accompanies opera.
To appreciate one of Madrid’s most iconic buildings, there is no better way to visit it than for the purpose for which it was designed. The Teatro Real’s production of Richard Strauss’s opera *Capriccio* offers just such an opportunity, taking place between late May and early June. The majestic setting, the acoustics, the romantic music of Richard Strauss – what better way to discover one of Madrid’s main cultural attractions with all the pomp and ceremony that accompanies opera.
The Teatro Real’s new production, *Capriccio*
After an eight-year hiatus from staging any of Strauss’s works, *Capriccio* presents a powerful and imaginative production of his final opera. The stage director for this production is the renowned Christof Loy, and the musical direction is in the hands of Asher Fisch, a respected Strauss specialist. The set design is by Raimund Orfeo Voigt. Produced by the Teatro Real, in co-production with the Opernhaus Zürich and the Göteborg Opera, and featuring the Teatro Real’s Principal Orchestra (Madrid Symphony Orchestra), the opera stars soprano Malin Byström, baritone Josef Wagner and tenor Norman Reinhardt in the leading roles.
The Teatro Real, part of Madrid’s historical and architectural heritage which celebrated its bicentenary in 2018, was founded by Ferdinand VII in 1818 and finally completed in 1850. It is situated directly opposite the imposing Royal Palace, between the contrasting neighbourhoods of La Latina and Asturias in the south-west of Madrid. The Teatro Real is one of the capital’s principal architectural landmarks and is regarded as one of Europe’s great theatres. With a capacity of 1,746 seats, the opera, ballet and recital performances staged there throughout the year make this building a vital and vibrant part of the capital’s cultural scene.
Capriccio, a lesser-known opera by Richard Strauss
Capriccio is structured as a one-act opera; the German libretto was written by Clemens Krauss in collaboration with Strauss, based on an earlier work by Stefan Zweig and Joseph Gregor. The action takes place in a castle where a countess is pursued by two suitors, providing a pretext for a discussion on the merits of art, poetry and music. The opera’s subtitle is ‘A Conversation Piece for Music’, and it is structured as an opera within an opera. Originally, it lasted two and a half hours without an interval; nowadays, contemporary productions usually include a break between the different scenes.
The opera was first performed in Munich at the Nationaltheater München in October 1942, in the midst of the Second World War. Its US premiere did not take place until 1958, when it was staged at the Santa Fe Opera, having been performed by the renowned Juilliard School four years earlier, in 1954. Due to its conversational style and uninterrupted length, Capriccio is one of Strauss’s lesser-known works.
Richard Strauss
Richard Strauss (1864–1949) was a German composer born in Munich, known as both a composer and a conductor. His operas (the most famous of which are *Elektra* and *Salome*), Lieder, tone poems and other instrumental works continue to be enjoyed around the world today. During his lifetime, he achieved a status of near-celebrity as his works were performed by orchestras and opera companies across the globe. Today, his operas are among the most frequently performed works by any 20th-century composer.
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