Music Director: Luke Housner
Stage Director: Josh Miller
Scenic Designer: Cameron Anderson
Which is the more beautiful art – music or poetry? This timeless question lies at the heart of Capriccio, Richard Strauss’ final opera, a sublime blend of elegance, wit, and philosophical reflection. The opera follows the cultured and elegant Countess Madeleine as she navigates the affections of two ardent suitors – Flamand, a passionate composer, and Olivier, a fiery poet. Their rivalry sparks not only a romantic dilemma but also a profound exploration of artistic expression.
As Madeleine weighs each of their arguments and affections, she is drawn into a meditation on the nature of opera, love, and the human condition. Her search for an answer culminates in a striking moment of introspection, with the Countess uttering the opera’s most unforgettable line: “Opera is an absurd thing!”
First premiered in Munich in 1942, Capriccio is both a sophisticated comedy and a farewell to the era Strauss helped define. Now, this richly layered masterpiece returns to the AVA stage for the first time since the 2009–2010 opera season, inviting audiences to indulge in its luxurious score, refined humor, and timeless philosophical questions.
Sung in German with English supertitles.