Percy Grainger: Ramble on the Love Duet from Rosenkavalier

I am not a huge fan of opera. However, one of my favourites from my teenage years was Richard Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier. I first heard it in the magnificent 1956 recording made by Herbert von Karajan and the Philharmonia Orchestra, with the legendary Elisabeth Schwarzkopf as the Marschallin and Christa Ludwig singing Octavian. It was originally issued on the Columbia label in 1956 and had been subsequently remastered and reissued on several media..

The opera, composed between 1909 and 1910, is set in 18th-century Vienna and follows a poignant, humorous tale of love and change. The Marschallin, a noblewoman, realizes her young lover Octavian will eventually leave her as time passes. Octavian becomes embroiled in a love triangle when sent to deliver a silver rose to Sophie, the fiancée of the crude Baron Ochs. Octavian and Sophie fall in love, leading to comedic and heartfelt moments. Ultimately, the Marschallin steps aside gracefully, allowing the young couple to unite, reflecting on love's fleeting nature and the bittersweet passage of time. It is a richly human, waltz-laden masterpiece.

Percy Grainger’s relationship with his mother, Rose, was deeply significant, and her suicide on 30 April 1922 had a profound impact on him. His Ramble on the Last Love-Duet from Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier, begun prior to her death, was completed in White Plains, Westchester County, New York on 20 December 1927. It was dedicated to his mother’s memory. The title subtly incorporates her name, reflecting her importance and paralleling the opera’s theme of separation. By 1926, Grainger’s emotional life had revived with his meeting of Swedish artist Ella Viola Ström, whom he married in 1928.

A great admirer of Richard Strauss, whom he considered a genius, Grainger met the composer several times, and Strauss conducted Grainger’s works in Germany on multiple occasions. Ramble on the Last Love-Duet, described as Grainger’s most elaborate piano paraphrase, reflects the lush, evocative sound world of Strauss. Known for its meticulous notation and masterful use of the sostenuto pedal, it requires pianists to follow Grainger’s detailed instructions to faithfully interpret this virtuosic masterpiece. It is notable example of Grainger’s skill as a composer-transcriber - pianist and his ability to blend technical brilliance with deep emotion.

Listen to Percy Grainger’s Ramble on the Love Duet from Rosenkavalier played by Marc-André Hamelin on YouTube, here. It the video comes complete with score. It was issued on the Hyperion label in 2002 (CDA66884).