Richard Strauss: Arabella

With its romantic Viennese plot and lush waltz-time melodies, Arabella is one of Strauss's most popular operas. Count Waldner's family fortunes will only revive if his beautiful daughter, Arabella, can marry well. His other daughter, Zdenka - who has been raised as a boy to save money - is in love with one of Arabella's suitors. At a ball, Arabella falls in love with the mysterious Mandryka, heir to some distant rural estates, but the happy ending is delayed by intrigue and misunderstanding.