| Character | 1973 | 1984 | 1985 Act I, part of III only |
1994 Act II only |
| Die Feldmarschallin | Claire Watson | Judith Beckmann | Lucia Popp | |
| Baron Ochs | Karl Ridderbusch | Hans Sotin | Manfred Jungwirth | Kurt Rydl |
| Octavian | Brigitte Fassbaender | Brigitte Fassbaender | Brigitte Fassbaender | Delores Ziegler |
| Sophie | Lucia Popp | Barbara Bonney | Helen Donath | Barbara Bonney |
| Herr von Faninal | Benno Kusche | Benno Kusche | Eike Wilm Schulte | |
| Sänger | Gerhard Unger | Francisco Araiza | Yoshihisa Yamaji | |
| Marianne, Leitmetzerin | Anneliese Waas | Marianne Seibel | Annegeer Stumphius | |
| Valzacchi | David Thaw | David Thaw | Ulrich Ress | Ulrich Ress |
| Annina | Margarethe Bence | Gudrun Wewezow | Cornelia Wulkopf | Cornelia Wulkopf |
| Polizeikommisar | Albrecht Peter | Gerhard Auer | ||
| Notar | Hans Wilbrink | Hans Wilbrink | ||
| Wirt | Lorenz Fehenberger | Friedrich Lenz | ||
| Drei adelige Waisen | Evi List Doris Linser Daphne Evangelatos |
Georgina Benza Verena Gohl Helena Jungwirth |
| 1973 | 1984 | 1985 | The bedroom of the Marschallin. |
| 3:28 | 3:37 | 3:39 | After a night of lovemaking, Octavian sings of his love for the Marschallin (Wie du warst! Wie du bist!). |
| 17:55 | 18:35 | 18:30 | Baron Ochs barges into the Marschallin's bedroom and collides with Octavian now disguised as a chambermaid. After flirting with Octavian, Ochs tells the Marschallin of his intention to marry Sophie. |
| 31:18 | 32:36 | 32:36 | The Marschallin suggests to Ochs that Octavian deliver the silver rose to Sophie. |
| 35:28 | 37:04 | 37:05 | After various tradesmen have entered the bedroom; the Italian tenor sings (Di rigori armato il seno). The song is cut short by an argument between Ochs and a lawyer over the wedding dowry. |
| 44:17 | 46:27 | 46:12 | Everyone has departed leaving the Marschallin alone. She sings sadly of her vanished youth (Da geht er hin). |
| 54:20 | 57:15 | 57:00 | Octavian has returned and the Marschallin tells him about time's passing and that he will eventually find another love (Die Zeit, die ist ein sonderbar Ding). |
| 1973 | 1984 | 1994 | A salon in Faninal's house. |
| 05:37 | 05:10 | 06:04 | Octavian arrives at the Faninal home to present the rose to Sophie. (Mir ist die Ehre widerfahren) |
| 15:47 | 12:45 | 18:04 | Sophie's father, Faninal, escorts Ochs in to meet his prospective bride. |
| 21:50 | 19:03 | 24:33 | Ochs sings to Sophie that their love will happen overnight (Wird kommen über nacht). The tune of the song is Ochs's favorite waltz which is repeated throughout the opera. Octavian realizes that Ochs is a total boor and undeserving of Sophie and he vows to prevent the marriage. |
| 27:43 | 25:02 | 30:42 | Left alone, Sophie and Octavian sing of their love for one another. (Was Sie ist . Mit Ihren Augen voll Tränen) |
| 30:34 | 28:10 | 35:03 | The young lovers' reverie is interrupted by Ochs servants, Valazacchi and Annina who send for Ochs. Ochs challenges Octavian to a duel. Ochs is slightly wounded. |
| 48:55 | 47:17 | 54:12 | After he is bandaged, Ochs receives a message that the Marschallin's chambermaid, Octavian in disguise, will meet him. Ochs sings with joy. (Ohne mich, ohne mich) |
| 1973 | 1984 | 1985 | Act III: A room in a nearby inn. |
| 06:42 | 06:41 | The innkeeper brings Ochs into the room to meet Octavian. Ochs tries to seduce Octavian who refuses his entreaties (Nein, nein, nein, nein! I trink' kein Wein) Each time Ochs tries to seduce Octavian, ghosts appear at the windows and trapdoors. | |
| 18:44 | 19:03 | Annina comes into the room claiming to be Ochs' wife. Four children run in crying papa, papa! The police are summoned to try to resolve the situation. At the same time Octavian sends for Faninal and Sophie. | |
| 27:55 | 28:47 | The principals all arrive and Octavian has changed back into his normal clothes and the Marschallin requests that Ochs leave. The Baron leaves followed by the crowd. | |
| 38:09 | 39:46 | Only Sophie, Octavian, and the Marschallin are left. (Mein Gott! Es war nicht mehr als eine Farce) | |
| 44:29 | 46:25 | 00:00 | The two young lovers, Octavian and Sophie, sing of their love. The
Marschallin accepts the fact that Octavian has found another and leaves them
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