The Bachelor of the Silver Rose

The opera impresses with its richness of orchestration and melodiousness, combining lyricism with humor. The elaborate ensembles are characteristic, especially the famous final trio, as well as the waltz stylizations that give the work a nostalgic, Viennese color. The Bachelor of the Silver Rose is a reflection on love, time and maturation, given in a light, graceful form that makes the opera one of Strauss's most staged works to this day.

A comic opera, the premiere of which took place in 1911 in Dresden and quickly brought the work enormous popularity. The action takes place in Vienna around the middle of the 18th century, in a world of aristocracy full of conventions, intrigue and subtle humor.

The plot focuses on Marshal, a mature aristocrat, and her young lover Octavian. When Baron Ochs plans to marry the young Sophie Faninal, he chooses Octavian as the ceremonial “bachelor of the silver rose”, who is to present the bride with the symbol of the engagement. During this celebration, Octavian and Sophie fall in love with each other, which triggers a series of comic misunderstandings, dress-ups and intrigues. Marshalkova, aware of the passage of time and the age difference, with dignity renounces love, allowing the young to be happy.

The play is being prepared by Wojciech Faruga, an acclaimed theatre director, currently director of the Drama Theatre in Warsaw. In addition to his rich achievements in dramatic theatre, he has two opera productions — both for the Grand Theatre and the National Opera — Maria de Buenos Aires Piazzolli (2023) and Così fan tutte Mozart (2024).

Faruga decided to transfer the action of the opera (originally set in Vienna in the middle of the 18th century) to the golden age of Hollywood and the success of silent cinema, also using the conventions of slapstick comedy. Katarzyna Borkowska is responsible for the visual side of the show. The musical director of the Baltic Opera, Yaroslav Shemet, took over the musical direction.