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That sentimental, affecting, vulgar and enormously skillful opera "Der Rosenkavalier" by Richard Strauss came back to the Metropolitan Friday night under a new conductor, George Szell. He must have been able to give the opera more rehearsal time than it has enjoyed in recent years, for it went with a fresh smoothness and sheen. It also went with lilt and with drama, and a nostalgic phrasing of the waltz tunes that brought a catch to the throat again and again.

Lacking a great and warm personality, such as Lotte Lehmann's, in the role of the Princess, the opera is likely to be dominated by the Baron Ochs, when he is portrayed by so authentic and convincing an actor as Emanuel List. And when Baron Ochs dominates the scene - as he did most of Friday night - the essential Teutonic boorishness and cruelty of the tale became almost unbearable, especially when contrasted with the concomitant sentimentality.

Not that Irene Jessner was anything but competent. She sang the music of the Princess quite well enough, but only lacked the great dignity and warmth which can make that lady more important than her title. Together with Rise Stevens as Octavian and Eleanor Steber as Sophie, she made the final trio a thing of real beauty.

The lesser roles were all well taken, and Kurt Baum received an ovation for his anonymous first-act tenor aria.

Search by season: 1943-44

Search by title: Der Rosenkavalier,

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