For the Inauguration of the Statue of Richard Strauss
I listened Richard Strauss’s wonderful work, Die Frau ohne Schatten in the Hungarian premiere with nostalgia. It was forty years ago when I got acquainted with the engaging music of Richard Strauss in this opera, in the role of Die Kaiserin. It was a 36-year-old relationship. Die Kaiserin, Die Färberin, Ariadne, Helena, Salome, Chrysothemis, Elektra, Klytamnestra and – last, but not least – his songs were unforgettable parts of my career. This is the reason why I accepted the distinguishing invitation of General Director Mr. Szilveszter Ókovács to commemorate briefly at the inauguration of Richard Strauss’s statue (after the statue of Puccini), as an advocator of his works. We redeem an old mistake with this inauguration. The 150th anniversary of the composer’s birth is an excellent occasion for this. The operas of Richard Strauss – excepting some works – haven’t played yet in Hungary, so the Hungarian State Opera redeems and has redeemed an old mistake with these premiers, one after another, creating a more interesting repertoire. It isn’t easy to endear and to take to the works of Richard Strauss, but if you love this amazing music, neither you can’t rid of it, nor you don’t want to rid of it. If I think only for the successful Strauss concert of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Monday, I feel, the Hungarian State Opera is on the right tack. Dear Maestro, feel yourself at home over here! My most cordial wishes!
Budapest, 11 June 2014
Prof. Emerita, KS. Marton Éva