William Parker

ccSCOOP Publisher

New York's prima donna assoluta, Renée Fleming is, like Dolly Levi, back where she belongs, in the role of the Marschallin in Richard Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier at the Metropolitan Opera. After making her first appearance as Marschallin at the Met back in 2000, Fleming had a switch of conductors when she made her return in the part back in October. James Levine needed surgery and was replaced by Edo de Waart. But now Jimmy's back in the saddle, and the vibrant, sublime Met orchestra will sound even better as La Fleming, one of the great Strauss singers (anyone who heard her Capriccio a few seasons back at the Met can attest to that), and Susan Graham, putting on the trousers as Octavian, return for performances that will be streamed live to opera mavens and civilians alike at TSL. To hear Marie Theres'—the trio in Act III—is to know bliss.

The Saturday matinee on January 9 is already sold out, but there will be encore performances on January 17 and 24, both at 1 p.m.

For more information, go to timeandspace.org.