Stolz: Operettas

Advantages: Some less often heard pieces by Robert Stolz
Disadvantages: Insensitive conducting which swamps singers

...Having lived and worked in Vienna for several years, I\'ve always had a big soft spot for operetta, waltzes and Viennese music in general. Done well it can be as satisfyingly enjoyable to listen to as drinking a mug of my favourite Austrian Kaffeehaus speciality - \"heisse Schokolade\" (hot chocolate) topped with a big dollop of perfectly whipped cream... Unfortunately, listening to this CD - which is with the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Iain Sutherland and the two vocal soloists Julia Migenes and Sebastian Reinthaller - is like forcing yourself to drink thin watery cheap cocoa with nasty sludgey powdery lumpy bits lurking in the bottom. It isn\'t good at all, I\'m afraid. Robert Stolz lived from 1880 to 1975 and really continued the Viennese style of operetta and light orchestral music that had been so successfully... Read review

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Advantages: The wit, the songs, the dialogue, the costumes
Disadvantages: A satire on anyone who follows the asthetic movement

...Patience was the first Gilbert and Sullivan operetta I had any experience of. I was thrilled by the songs, the music, the costumes and the story. It was an unforgettable experience and started off an interest in Gilbert and Sullivan that I will always retain. Fortunately, we are lucky to have a Gilbert and Sullivan society in our area so I do get opportunity to see live performances of many of the operettas. Patience was the sixth of Gilbert and Sullivan’s operettas. It opened at the Opera Comique on 23th April 1881 and was eventually moved to D’Oyly Carte’s new theatre at the Savoy on 10th October 1881. Gilbert followed the tradition of giving contemporary operas an alternative title, Bunthorne's Bride. The libretto is writted by W S Gilbert and the music composed by Arthur Sullivan. Patience is a basically a story of rival poets... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Witty lyrics, sparkling music
Disadvantages: None

...Die Fledermaus: The Bat Composer: Johann Strauss ll Lyrics: Carl Haffner and Richard Genee Conductor: John Owen Edwards Orchestra: D'Oyly Carte Opera Orchestra Performer: D'Oyly Carte Opera Chorus Label: Sony Classics Released: October 1, 1995 Number of Discs: 2 Cost: £27.99 The Composer Johann Strauss ll was born in Vienna on 25th October 1825 the eldest son of Johann Strauss a renowned violinist and composer. Johann Strauss junior was also a violinist. In 1844, he gathered together his own orchestra with himself as conductor and composer. Working in opposition to his father who disapproved. In 1849 on the death of his father, the two Strauss orchestras were combined. Strauss is best known for his Waltzes including The Beautiful Blue Danube. He also composed 17 operettas including Die Fledermaus in 1874. The Opera... Read review

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