Strauss: Die Fledermaus; Lehár: Der Zarewitsch

On this CD:

1. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503)
Composed by Johann II Strauss
Performed by Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra with Anton Dermota, Hilde Gueden, August Jaresch, Wilma Lipp, Julius Patzak, Alfred Poell, Sieglinde Wagner, Kurt Preger
Conducted by Clemens Krauss

2. Der Zarewitsch, operetta Introduction
Composed by Franz Lehar
Performed by Lisa della Casa, Manfred Jungwirth

3. Der Zarewitsch, operetta Schaukle, Liebchen, schaukle
Composed by Franz Lehar
Performed by Lisa della Casa, Manfred Jungwirth

4. Der Zarewitsch, operetta Einer wird kommen
Composed by Franz Lehar
Performed by Lisa della Casa, Manfred Jungwirth

5. Der Zarewitsch, operetta Wolgalied
Composed by Franz Lehar
Performed by Lisa della Casa, Manfred Jungwirth

6. Der Zarewitsch, operetta Finale, Act 1
Composed by Franz Lehar
Performed by Lisa della Casa, Manfred Jungwirth

7. Der Zarewitsch, operetta Herz, warum schlägst du so bang?
Composed by Franz Lehar
Performed by Lisa della Casa, Manfred Jungwirth

8. Der Zarewitsch, operetta Bleib bei mir
Composed by Franz Lehar
Performed by Lisa della Casa, Manfred Jungwirth

9. Der Zarewitsch, operetta Was mir einst an dir gefiel
Composed by Franz Lehar
Performed by Lisa della Casa, Manfred Jungwirth

10. Der Zarewitsch, operetta Das Leben ruft!
Composed by Franz Lehar
Performed by Lisa della Casa, Manfred Jungwirth

11. Der Zarewitsch, operetta Aljoscha! Dass du nur wieder da bist!
Composed by Franz Lehar
Performed by Lisa della Casa, Manfred Jungwirth

12. Der Zarewitsch, operetta Finale, Act 2
Composed by Franz Lehar
Performed by Lisa della Casa, Manfred Jungwirth

13. Der Zarewitsch, operetta Kosende Wellen
Composed by Franz Lehar
Performed by Lisa della Casa, Manfred Jungwirth

14. Eva, operetta Finale, Act 3
Composed by Franz Lehar
Performed by Lisa della Casa, Manfred Jungwirth

Customer Reviews:

The only album I need? Not really........2004-06-14

There's something a little sad about this particular marketing scheme: The ONLY operetta album you'll ever need. it implies that everything operetta offers could be contained on one disc. It cheapens the form to think it could be distilled into 74 minutes, and it invites ridicule, because nobody could pick the tracks that would please everybody. Having said that, this compilation is pretty poor even for an exercise in futility.

First there is the matter of the composers represented. Offenbach, Strauss, Lehar, Flotow. So far, we're good. The inclusion of Robert Stolz and Carl Zeller would be alright, except that there is nothing by Gilbert and Sullivan, Victor Herbert, Jerome Kern, and a couple other giants of operetta. There is also a further insult; the bizarre inclusion of two versions of 'Dein ist mein ganzes herz', one in German, and one in English. This is, to be sure, a great operetta moment, but is operetta really so bereft of great moments as to warrant the inclusion of two versions of the same tune? Or did the compilers not realize they were one and the same? Neither answer inspires confidence. It even appears that one of the tracks, "Wien wird bei Nacht erst schoen" is not actually from an operetta, which is truly inexcusable in light of the glaring omissions of entire categories of operetta. And couldn't we get a recording with Stolz conducting his own pieces? Presumably BMG had access to such recordings, seeing as he conducts three of the other tracks on the album. And surely there are more numbers to mine from Fledermaus that rank higher than some of these maudlin numbers from Viennese oddities.

The performances are admirable, particularly Domingo's 'M'appari', which is as good as one might expect from him, and 'Das Leben Ruft', a glittering number by Lucia Popp in fine form. But the tracks by Moffo and Caballe are not terribly good; the two were clearly past their primes. Rudolf Schock sounds much better in the redundant 'Dein ist mein ganzes herz' than he does in 'Komm in die Gondel', which is pretty dismal until the very end, where he pulls out a nice closing note in head voice. Wunderlich is predictably good at this material, as is von Stade. Jerry Hadley is exceptional at the 'Wolgenlied', but sounds pretty ordinary in 'Schoen ist die welt'

Tracks:

Gern Hab' Ich Die Frau'n Gekusst
Eine Nacht In Venedig: Komm In Die Gondel
Eine Nacht In Venedig: Sei Mit Gegrusst
Eine Nacht In Venedig: Treu Sein, Das Liegt Mir Nicht
Der Zarewitsch: Willst Du?
Der Lachende Ehemann: Weinlied
Bruder Straubinger: Kussen Ist Keine Sund
Der Zigeunerbaron: Ja, Das Alles Auf Ehr'
Der Bettelstudent: Ich Knupfte Manche Zarte Bande
Der Bettelstudent: Ich Hab' Kein Geld
Die Fledermaus: Trinke, Liebchen, Trinke Schnell
Der Kellermeister: Lass Dir Zeit
Im Reiche Des Indra: Es War Einmal
Der Vogelhandler: Wie Mein Ahnl Zwanzig Jahr'
Nakiris Hochzeit: Ob Du Mich Liebst
Friederike: O Madchen, Mein Madchen
Friederike: Sah Ein Knab' Ein Roslein Steh'n
Die Zirkusprinzessin: Zwei Marchenaugen
Der Zarewitsch: Wolgalied
Gasparone: Er Soll Dein Herr Sein
Die Fledermaus: Im Feuerstrom Der Reben - Franz Volker/Else Kochhann/Emma Bassth/Irene Eisinger/Hertha Klust/Waldemar Henke/Gerhard Witting...
Die Fledermaus: Bruderlein Und Schwesterlein - Franz Volker/Else Kochhann/Emma Bassath/Irene Eisinger/Hertha Klust/Waldemar Henke...
Der Vogelhandler: Schenkt Man Sich Rosen In Tirol

Tracks:

Der Zigeunerbaron: Werberlied Und Csardas
Ein Walzertraum: Da Draussen Im Duftenden Garten
Der Zigeunerbaron: Mein Aug' Bewacht - Franz Volker/Else Kochhann/Emma Bassth
Der Zigeunerbaron: Ha Seht, Es Winkt - Franz Volker/Else Kochhann/Emma Bassth
Die Fledermaus: Trinke, Liebchen, Trinke Schnell - Franz Volker/Else Kochhann
Drei Musketiere: Wenn Du Treulos Bist
Die Zwolf Frauen Die Japhet: Die Kirschen In Nachbars Garten
Das Land Des Lachelns: Dein Ist Mein Ganzes Herz
Das Land Des Lachelns: Immer Nur Lacheln
Das Land Des Lachelns: Bei Einem Tee En Deux - Franz Volker/Else Kochhann
Das Land Des Lachelns: Wer Hat Die Liebe Uns Ins Herz Gesenkt - Franz Volker/Else Kochhann
Der Rastelbinder: Wenn Zwei Sich Lieben
Der Feldprediger: Traumwalzer
Der Gottergatte: Was Ich Langst Ertraumt
Das Dreimaderlhaus: Lied Aus Wien
Giuditta: Schaut Der Mond Abends Spat - Franz Volker/Adele Kern
Giuditta: Schon Wie Die Blaue Sommernacht - Franz Volker/Adele Kern
Giuditta: Du Bist Meine Sonne
Giuditta: Freunde, Das Leben Ist Lebenswert
Der Bettelstudent: Ich Hab' Kein Geld
Der Bettelstudent: Ich Knupfte Manche Zarte Bande
Rose Marie: Uber Die Prarie
Das Land Des Lachelns: Dein Ist Mein Ganzes Herz
Das Land Des Lachelns: Immer Nur Lacheln

Average customer rating:

Golden Age Recording Worth Its Weight In Gold

Hilde Gueden Sings Operetta Evergreens

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Elisabeth Schwarzkopf - A Viennese Evening with Willi Boskovsky
Great Recordings Of The Century - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf Sings Operetta / Ackermann

ASIN: B000174LXO
Release Date: 2004-04-13

Tracks:

Entry Of Mariza
Sag' Ja Mein Lieb, Sag' Ja
Mein Liebeslied Mub Ein Walzer Sein
Kosende Wellen
Heut Konnt Einer Sein Gluck Bei Mir Machen
Nonnenchor
Hor' ich Zymbalklange
Mein Herr Marquis
Mein Herr Marquis
Sei Nicht Bos
Held Meiner Traume
Wiener Blut

Customer Reviews:

Golden Age Recording Worth Its Weight In Gold.......2004-05-17

I'll have to admit, when it comes to re-releases of classical music, I am usually an easy target, but when the CD that is re-released from LP to CD format has a retro cover, I'm almost always a sucker. All I need to do to prove this point is show people the RCA Red Seal releases I have in my collection. Why do these recordings have such an appeal? Many of them I listened to when growing up and many are the very recordings that introduced me to classical music and started me on a lifelong appreciation of wonderful sounds performed by the world's foremost performers. When it has an original cover, I am transported back in time, albeit without scratches thanks to digital re-mastering. That being said, when I saw a vintage re-release of a Prima Donna with a French poodle (it dates back to 1961, would she be pictured any other way?), my curiosity was piqued. I was naturally drawn to Decca's re-release of a Hilde Gueden recording of operetta favorites. After listening, I realized I struck gold with this collection.

When performing, Hilde Gueden's repertoire tended toward Mozart roles and some Germans works, although she had success in a wide variety of roles including Gilda and Musetta. Her voice is light yet disciplined which makes her a natural for operetta arias. It is evident from listening that Ms. Gueden not only is a capable performer, but enjoys the music she is performing. This recording contains many of the standard favorites such as "Hore ich Zigeurnergeigen" from GRAFIN MARIZA, Straus' Wiener Blut, and the Nuns' Chorus from Casanova to name a few. She performs as a soloist in many of the tracks though in some she is accompanied by the wonderful Vienna Operetta Choir. Robert Stolz does a wonderful job conducting the Vienna Staatsoper Orchestra.

Tracks:

Harpsichord Concerto: Allegro Moderato
String Quartet In D Major: Vivace
Largetto - Allegro - Largo-Allegro
Symphony No. 7: Allegro Moderato
'Mass' in E Minor: Kyrie
'Mass' in E Minor: Gloria
'Mass' in E Minor: Agnus Dei
Piano Concerto op. 204: Variations and Rondo
Harp Concerto in A Major: Allegro molto

Tracks:

Symphony No. 104 in D Major: Adagio - Allegro
Symphony No. 94 in G Major: Andante
Quartet op. 3/5: Serenade
Emperor Quartet: Poco Adagio cantabile
The Seasons: Finale - 'Dann bricht der grosse Morgen an'
String Quartet in A Major: Presto
Ave maris stella
Piano Concerto No. 2 in A minor: Allegro Moderato
Viel Larm um nichts: Stage music op. 11
Liebesfreud
Liebesleid

Tracks:

Tarantella Galop
Paganini: Liebe - du Himmel auf Erden
The Count of Luxembourg: Unbekkant - doch nicht minder interessant
The Czarevitch: Hab' nur dich allein
Quintetto concertante in F Major: Menuetto
Adagietto
Das Lied von der Erde: The Drunken One in Spring
Der Bettelstudent: Und da soll man noch galant sein
Der Bettelstudent: Nur das ein bitt' ich dich
Gasparone: Anzoletta's Song - 'Komm - mia bella'
Gasparone: Dunkelrote Rosen
Harpsichord Concerto: Allegro
Piano Concerto op. 14: Allegro
Symphony No. 40 in G minor: Molto Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 21: 'Elvira Madigan' Andante
Sonata No. 11 in A Major: Rondo alla Turca

Tracks:

Eine kleine Nachtmusik: Serenade No. 13 - Allegro
'Der Holle Rache'
Boys trio: :Bald prangt, den Morgen zu verkunden'
'In Diesen heil'gen Hallen'
O zittre nicht
Ave verum corpus
Requiem: Domine Jesu Christe
Laudate Dominum
Franz Lehrndorfer; organ: Hallelujah por la Resurrectione
Dance of the Elves
Tafelmusik: Intrada
Intermezzo from Notre Dame
Desire Waltz: Allegro Moderato
Desire Waltz: op 9a in A flat Major
The Trout Quintet: Andante - Theme with Variations

Tracks:

Der Erlkonig (Goethe)
Heindenroslein
Ungeduld
Rastlose Liebe
Die Winterreise: Der Lindenbaum
Carmen Quadrille
Radetzky March
The Blue Danube Waltz
Medley from 'Die Fledermaus': Champagne Polka
Medlef rom 'Die Fledermaus': So muss allein ich bleiben
Oje oje wie ruhrt mich dies
Medley from :Die Fledermaus': Klange der Heimat
Intermezzo from '1001 Nights'
Souvenior Polka
Galop of the Bandits
Boccaccio March
6 pieces for Orchestra, No. 1 - Langsam, No. 2 - Bewegt
Sei nicht bos
Faschingskinder

Customer Reviews:

Has anyone seen Bob in here?.......2006-05-23

Hey, has anyone seen my friend Bob in here? He said he'd meet me here. Oh well...

Ignore the other other reviewer.......2004-03-21

Five stars, one star, has anyone actually heard this recording? The first reviewer makes it pretty clear he's reviewing the search engine; the second reviewer is reviewing NOTHING.

ignore the other reviewer.......2004-03-19

I haven't heard this recording; I just wanted to give to something to boost its rating because obviously the other reviewer was writing a review of amazon's search engine and not this recording. I really don't know what rating it deserves, but seeing a recording w/ Wunderlich on it that gets one star just seems wrong.

Huh?.......2003-12-26

Oddly enough, Amazon's search engine brought me here when I was searching for "Blue Man Group"....unfortunately, the closest we get is the Blue Danube. Wonderful though it might be, it's NOT Blue Man Group.

Let me reiterate, there is NO Blue Man Group at all on this CD. Not even one track. None. Niente. Nada.

Heck, they aren't even Austrian. Or Australian, for that matter.

Tracks:

Im Chambre Separee
Ich Schenk Mein Herz
Ich Bin Die Christel Von Der Post
Sei Nicht Bos
Du Sollst Der Kaiser Meiner Seele Sein
Als Gebluht Der Kirschenbaum
Draussen In Sievering
Schwips-Lied
Mein Herr Marquis
Es Muss Was Wunderbares Sein, Von Dir Geliebt Zu Werden
Im Salzkammergut
Du Nur Bist Das Gluck Meines Lebens
Strahlender Mond
Vilja-Lied
Sah Ein Knab' Ein Roslein Stehn
Einer Wird Kommen
Meine Lippen, Die Kussen So Heiss
Wien, Du Stadt Meiner Traume

Amazon.com

You don't have to be Viennese to love Viennese operettas, whose lilting waltz-rhythms and catchy tunes have captivated audiences since Johann Strauss, Jr., the Waltz King, originated the style with his masterpiece Die Fledermaus in 1874. His genius remains unequaled; among his successors and imitators, only Lehár (who had the temerity, and the skill, to compete with Schubert's setting of Goethe's "Heidenröslein"--No. 15 on this disc) got anywhere near him in compositional ability or inspiration. Thus, the stand-outs here are the "Laughing Song" from Fledermaus and the "Vilja-Song" from The Merry Widow. Many songs are the only survivors of totally forgotten operettas; indeed, some were written by amateur "spare-time" composers, like Heuberger and Zeller; yet the former's title song and the latter's "Don't be cross" (No. 4) have become classics. Most are about love, dreamed of, yearned for, fulfilled and unfulfilled; primarily slow, they are set off by a few lively, exuberant, mischievous ones. The program ends with "Vienna, City of my Dreams," which celebrates Vienna's glamour, but indirectly also its melting-pot culture: the name of its creator is Rudolf Sieczynski.

Barbara Bonney, star of opera and concert stage, obviously loves this music, but is not quite at home in it. Her voice, clear as a bell with a wonderful top, is perhaps too pure and uninflected for its sensuous seductiveness, sentimentality, and robust, earthy humor. Her German diction is unclear, and the Viennese dialect sounds alien to her. (Her translations, though mostly accurate, also betray a lack of idiomatic feeling.) Pianist Ronald Schneider's accompaniments are much closer to the style, but he sometimes camps them up. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

Time to don one's gloves and sip one's champagne - elegance personified.......2006-07-27

Let me begin by saying that I'd heard unfavourable reviews of this recording before I purchased it, but a snippet from one of the tracks which was played on the radio was delightful - and I decided to buy the CD in spite of the reviews.

I was not disappointed. It's odd - there is a reviewer below who mentions some problems with the middle register and a certain breathiness and lack of support which I cannot hear in this recording. Yet it's true that in her two subsequent recordings, the glow and wonder of Ms Bonney's voice are definitely impaired.

I listened once again to this CD, and once again was simply enchanted by it. It's possible that the voice is not the same as it was 20 years ago, but it's still incredibly beautiful, agile and intelligently used. I'm particularly charmed by her singing these operetta arias with a piano rather than orchestra - a much braver and more exposed singing and recording experience.

Ms Bonney is sweet, coy, deliciously teasing, devout and loving in turns, as required by the arias. She is always beautiful to listen to.

Recommended.

Charming, Funny, a new favorite.......2004-07-14

Maybe I'm not very serious in my listening habits, but this collection is a riot. I find myself humming the tunes all time time...and I was unfamiliar with most of them when I bought the recording. Lehar's setting of Goethe's poem Sah ein Knab' ein Roslein stehn from Friederike is quite wonderful and a nice contrast to the Schubert setting. (I also have Bonney singing that one.) The odd pieces, like Ich bin die Christel von der Post and the Schwips-Lied (tipsy song), are charming. I bought the CD for Mein Herr Marquis, a piece I learned as a high school accompanist, but the rest of this lovely recording has earned a place in my heart. I realize that Barbara Bonney's voice has changed over the years, but I think she really sounds like she's having fun on this one.

Fading Radiance.......2004-03-24

I find this CD lacks a tonal clarity that Bonney's voice displayed in her younger productions as 'Sofie' from Der Rosenkavalier. There is a slight tremelo that begins to creep into her middle register (though,this a touchy register for all soprani) and Bonney relies too heavily on breathiness to display the classic tenuti in 'Meine Lippen'. In same song Bonney lacks a strong vocal support (specially towards the end of the song) and decides to 'speak' many notes. Her fading vocal abilities are nicely displayed in a recording studio (where subtle nuances required of fading vocal abilities are amplified) though her gasps of air between phrases (a harsh sign of the toughening of once famously relaxed vocal cords) should have been removed if at all possible. Her German is practically flawless (of course!) and she is very musical. There are moments where one can still hear the vocal technique 'Sofie' requires of a soprano; but the lack of vocal stability and continuity only makes one weep for that which is lost. This CD stands as a testiment to a fading 'radiance' that was such a marked success in her youth.

Wunderbar!.......2003-07-15

There are some singers who never seem to have an off day, and Barbara Bonney is one of them. Through the years she has produced a series od CD's that have delighted the ears, bewitched the soul, and garnered her many loyal fans all over the world. And her newest offering is no disappointment: these charming remnants of a lost age may seem pure corn to some, but they were a wonderful discovery to this listener. And, of course, there are some old favorites included here as well: the title song (the best interpretation I've heard since Beverly Sills'), "Vilja", "Wien, du Stadt meinter Traume", and "Meine Lippen die kussen so heis". As usual, Bonney's voice is flawless, and her sheer joy in this music is infectious. True, a steady diet of this sort of thing may grow tiresome (like dining on marzipan every evening, perhaps) but in between bouts of Wagner and Verdi it's just the thing, and absolutely ravishing. I cannot find a single thing wrong with this album, and only those who don't care for Bonney or dislike the genre will have trouble with it. Highly recommended.

Bonney sparkles in operetta recital.......2003-07-07

For fans of the great soprano Barbara Bonney, this CD is a must have! For those new to Bonney's artistry (or the world of operetta), this CD is a great beginning to what is sure to be a long romance. From the exhuberant opening track to the nostalgic closing song, Bonney's sparkling soprano is captured beautifully. The operetta repertoire gives Bonney ample opportunities to display her georgeous high notes whether in finely spun out pianissimo or in full voice splendor. Bonney's intimate manner of inflection with the German language- the colors she gives each word and phrase with a clear intention of meaning- is most remarkable. Ronald Schneider is wonderful at the piano. It is obvious to hear in the hour long recital how much fun this collaboration was for them. Tracks number 1, 8, 14, and 17 are stand-outs for their intimacy and enjoyment. I have no reservations in recommending this album to anyone, as Bonney and Schneider are in top form in this operetta recital. Their performance is sincere, authentic (just the right amount of schmaltz), and sheer pleasure for the listener!