Schlagobers

Our final production from the Vienna State Opera is the feature on this week’s Sunday Opera (12/14 3:00 p.m.) as we turn to Richard Strauss’ gentle comedy, “Arabella.” The opera is set in Vienna in the 1860s even though it didn’t premiere until 1933.It centers on the Waldner family who are facing bankruptcy because of the father’s (Wolfgang Bankl) gambling. The mother’s (Margaret Plummer) only hope is that one of their daughters, Arabella (Camilla Nylund), will marry a wealthy man.

We're concluding our time at the Royal Opera House with Strauss' revenge tragedy "Elektra" with Ausrine Stundyte in the title role. After the opera, we'll have two more Strauss works: "Ein Heldenleben" and the ballet score, "Schlagobers."