Vienna State Opera – Richard Strauss – Der Rosenkavalier

The Marschallin has spent the night with her young lover Octavian. Their morning get-together is disturbed by Baron Ochs auf Lerchenau.

He asks the marshal for a suitable candidate to deliver a silver rose to his very young bride Sophie - daughter of the newly ennobled, rich Lord of Faninal. The Marschallin suggests Octavian. She reflects melancholically on the transience of life. With a »light heart and light hands«, she wants to let Octavian go one day..
When he meets Sophie, he falls in love with her. Sophie, who does not want to marry the unattractive Ochs, feels the same way about Octavian. But it is only after Baron Ochs has been set up and has become unacceptable as a future husband that Sophie and Octavian's happiness in love seems assured. Especially as the Marschallin remains true to herself and lets Octavian go, albeit with a heavy heart.