After listening to almost all Mozart opera's, and only liking two, I sat last night with a womanfriend and listen to Emmerich Kalman. She has a lot of this music, and is very fond of it, and...I too. I so loved going through this music, yet I feel that I have to be ashamed of it, to like it....like it very much, more so as opera. It feels like a crime, for amongst my musical friends few can understand this, well, this almost obsessive drive I have towards operetta.....
So I will begin my exploration with a few I have, and 2 more I ordered...I wonder are there any hardcore admirers of operetta of this board?
;D ;D ;D
O, yes I am fond of the kind of coloratura singing by Anneliese Rothenberger, the higher the better, and that really surprises me......
Kalman is wonderful! :) The next logical step is this stellar set:
(http://cover6.cduniverse.com/MuzeAudioArt/Large/40/543640.jpg)
Oh, what wonderful music he writes. Now it's going to be stuck in my head all day ;D
Yo, this one I have allready, and its wonderful indeed. :)
Yep. I consider being "delighted" a high priority in opera (too much "profundity" will give indigestion), and operetta is ideal for this. Offenbach is my favourite in the genre, and the ones I like most so far are La Belle Helene, Les brigands and La Grande-Duchesse de Gérolstein.
Not sure if you are looking for DVD as well as CD recommendations, but these two are amazing productions (the Offenbach in particular):
(http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/5866/25992603kf6.jpg) (http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/7044/24395036bg3.jpg)
Yep, Offenbach and Lehar are definitively on my list, and these DVD's I eyed with envy for a long time, so I think I will give myself a few Christmas presents, for no one ever gives me something.......... ;D ;D ;D
Humpfff, just kidding.
Thank you Lethe.
Try this
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/235/447406217_c14dddd339.jpg)
Surely one of the greatest operetta recitals ever made. No Kalma, but music by Lehar, Heuberger, Zeller, J Strauss, Suppe and Millocker.
A lot of this material is becoming available on Naxos Historical. I particularly like Land des Lachelns with Schwartzkopf/Gedda.
Quote from: erato on November 01, 2007, 11:21:52 AM
A lot of this material is becoming available on Naxos Historical. I particularly like Land des Lachelns with Schwartzkopf/Gedda.
I have it in a mid price EMI pressing, which comes coupled to the earlier of Schwarzkopf's versions of
Die lustige Witwe, and with full libretto and translation. I particularly like
Das Land des Lachelns, and this is a superb rendition.
(http://img.verycd.com/posts/0608/post-294269-1155973276.jpg)
I am non to fond on Elizabeth Schwarzkopf, not her voice, and neither her masterclasses. What a dreadful woman she was for her pupils. Saw it many times, and wanted to strangle her..... :P
Quote from: Harry on November 01, 2007, 02:58:35 PM
I am non to fond on Elizabeth Schwarzkopf, not her voice, and neither her masterclasses. What a dreadful woman she was for her pupils. Saw it many times, and wanted to strangle her..... :P
Well she was no harder on her students than she was on herself. I actually attended (in the audience) some of her master classes here in London. She was indeed a hard task master (mistress?), but she did get results, and often transformed a penny plain performance into a much more interesting one. When it comes to teaching, singers can only really pass on their own experience and their own way of working, which is what she did.
Anyway, by common consent, even those who don't like Schwarzkopf, admit the superiority of her operetta recordings.
Quote from: Tsaraslondon on November 01, 2007, 04:11:31 PM
Well she was no harder on her students than she was on herself. I actually attended (in the audience) some of her master classes here in London. She was indeed a hard task master (mistress?), but she did get results, and often transformed a penny plain performance into a much more interesting one. When it comes to teaching, singers can only really pass on their own experience and their own way of working, which is what she did.
Anyway, by common consent, even those who don't like Schwarzkopf, admit the superiority of her operetta recordings.
And therefore, because you say so, I will try the EMI recording of assembled composers.
Thank you, my friend.
Quote from: Harry on November 01, 2007, 11:56:57 PM
And therefore, because you say so, I will try the EMI recording of assembled composers.
Thank you, my friend.
I hope you enjoy it, Harry, I have a friend who normally can't bear Schwarzkopf, but he has the operetta arias disc and absolutely loves it. I have been unable to convince him to venture further however, so determined is he to maintain his prejudice.
I am looking for a site where I can download the libretti from operettas.
I bought a EMI box with the operettas from Lehar, not all mind you....
Sadly they are without libretti..so if someone can help?
Thanks...
The Land of Smiles CD I have is in English. I would like to add a version in German if I can next time. The music is the same, but it does sound a lot better in German. Afterall, the music was composed with the intended language in mind and all due consideration taken. (I do have two of the arias on other CDs that are sung in German. Much MUCH better.)
Quote from: Lethe on November 01, 2007, 10:14:28 AM
Yep. I consider being "delighted" a high priority in opera (too much "profundity" will give indigestion), and operetta is ideal for this.
So, to take this to a different genre . . .
Shakespeare's tragedies: pretty much the worst things he wrote, eh? 8)
Quote from: springrite on December 05, 2007, 05:13:28 AM
The Land of Smiles CD I have is in English. I would like to add a version in German if I can next time. The music is the same, but it does sound a lot better in German. Afterall, the music was composed with the intended language in mind and all due consideration taken. (I do have two of the arias on other CDs that are sung in German. Much MUCH better.)
Agreed in German it should be. I am so lucky that I speak and understand it fluently, but sometimes the speech is, due to the high singing of the coloratura, not good to follow, so I need the libretti anyway....
Try the CPO recording I post below, its very good, and seen international as the best performance in the German language....
Would love to get recommendations for the Family Strauss operettas, until now I could find little.
Which are the most famous?
But all other operettas I did not mention, or passed them by because I am still ignorant in the field, well, let the recommendations come......
Well, as far as I know, only Johann Strauss II wrote operettas in the family (I could be wrong?)
The most obvious answer is Die Fledermaus, the most popular operetta ever, one could argue. The 2nd most known is probably Der Zigeunerbaron (The Gypsy Baron). I have a DVD and one or two recordings of the former, but I've only heard good excerpts from the latter.
I know he wrote about 15 operettas, but the other ones are rarely played outside of Austria (but the good waltzes and overtures from them are often played, like the case of "Das Spitzentuch der Königin", for which the excellent waltz "Rosen aus dem Süden" was composed).
Quote from: Morigan on December 12, 2007, 12:42:28 PM
Well, as far as I know, only Johann Strauss II wrote operettas in the family (I could be wrong?)
The most obvious answer is Die Fledermaus, the most popular operetta ever, one could argue. The 2nd most known is probably Der Zigeunerbaron (The Gypsy Baron). I have a DVD and one or two recordings of the former, but I've only heard good excerpts from the latter.
I know he wrote about 15 operettas, but the other ones are rarely played outside of Austria (but the good waltzes and overtures from them are often played, like the case of "Das Spitzentuch der Königin", for which the excellent waltz "Rosen aus dem Süden" was composed).
Thanks Morigan, of course Die Fledermaus I knew, and the Zigeunerbaron, but I was unaware of the fact that Strauss II was the only one of that big family that wrote operettas. Hmmmmmm.
Well, I will talk with the management from CPO about those 15 operettas........... :)
I did a quick check-up; indeed, the father and the brothers only composed marches, polkas, quadrilles and waltzes!
Here's a list of J. Strauss II' operettas... (shamelessly stolen from Wiki)
I believe the bolded ones are what you should look into (besides Fledermaus and Zigeunerbaron, of course).
* Indigo und die Vierzig Räuber Indigo and the Forty Thieves (1871)
* Der Karneval in Rom The Carnival in Rome (1873)
* Die Fledermaus The Bat (April 5, 1874, at Theater an der Wien, Vienna)
* Cagliostro in Wien Cagliostro in Vienna (1875)
* Prinz Methusalem (1877)
* Blindekuh Blind Man's Buff (1878)
* Das Spitzentuch der Königin The Queen's Lace Handkerchief (1880)
* Der lustige Krieg The Merry War (1881)
* Eine Nacht in Venedig A Night in Venice (1883)
* Der Zigeunerbaron The Gypsy Baron (1885)
* Simplicius (1887)
* Fürstin Ninetta Princess Ninetta (1893)
* Jabuka - Das Apfelfest Apple festival (1894)
* Waldmeister Woodruff (1895)
* Die Göttin der Vernunft The Goddess of Reason (1897)
* Wiener Blut (1899)
EDIT: I forgot... Strauss attempted to compose an Opera, Der Ritter Pasman. I think he never finished it, but a polka and a waltz from the unfinished score are often played. The same thing happened with his unfinished Ballet, Aschenbrödel.
Well let me see what I can get from this list!
Thanks Morigan, I am a bit wiser.
Quote from: Harry on December 05, 2007, 05:18:24 AM
Agreed in German it should be. I am so lucky that I speak and understand it fluently, but sometimes the speech is, due to the high singing of the coloratura, not good to follow, so I need the libretti anyway....
Hopefully composers don't force a mouthful of words on coloraturas who have enough problems in the upper registers. Anyway an acoustic effect of the undiffererentation of vowels operates up there, so don't feel bad if you don't understand text. Most of the time one has to imagine or reconstruct it as in telephone conversations.
I have an LP of Joan Sutherland gorgeously singing operetta arias.
ZB
I have searched the internet for one day, to find the Libretti from Lehars operettas, but to no avail.
When the operettas were performed, these libretti were handed out before the event, freely and in great volumes.
When I send a email to CPO, they said, as a rule we provide all operas with a libretti, but for operettas they are too expensive to translate, and hard to come by.
Again they have proven that operetta is not considered a important branch of classical music.
In other words, it is not necessary for people to understand what is said.
And allthough I pay full price for the cd's, not one company is providing them.
In total I bought 17 cd's from EMI with operettas, but no libretti.
Somehow, that makes me very sad.
Quote from: Harry on December 15, 2007, 05:59:25 AM
no libretti.
Not here either, but plenty of info of the major ones - and as to Lehar, you can find the synopsis of almost all his works.
http://www.musicaltheatreguide.com/mainmenu.htm
Quote from: Harry on December 15, 2007, 05:59:25 AM
I have searched the internet for one day, to find the Libretti from Lehars operettas, but to no avail.
When the operettas were performed, these libretti were handed out before the event, freely and in great volumes.
When I send a email to CPO, they said, as a rule we provide all operas with a libretti, but for operettas they are too expensive to translate, and hard to come by.
Again they have proven that operetta is not considered a important branch of classical music.
In other words, it is not necessary for people to understand what is said.
And allthough I pay full price for the cd's, not one company is providing them.
In total I bought 17 cd's from EMI with operettas, but no libretti.
Somehow, that makes me very sad.
Very annoying and distressing,
Harry! :-\
The absence of texts is easily my biggest complaint concerning CD's. But it's often laziness and disinterest. I emailed EMI, who - mind you - even have a download facility on their
website (http://www.emiclassics.com/sungtexts.php)!! - to ask them to make available in that way the texts of the five French baroque CD's now reissued in the "Musique à la Chapelle Royalle de Versailles" set. Their encouraging reply: "Yes sure, what CD is it?" Me: "The MCRV set"? Them: "Oh that, sorry we don't have any of those texts at our disposal" Me: "But you previously issued them
with texts - just upload the textfiles on your site, please." EMI: silence....utter silence.
Maybe you could have a go at it yourself to persuade them (buy stocks in EMI! ;D).
Btw jpc is talking nonsense. They sell tons of opera recordings without a libretto. If a libretto is included is soley dependable on the manufacturer - it's not like that if a libretto
is lacking, jpc would supply one! ::)
On the subject of librettos. German publishers Reclam and Schott have various
libretti (http://www.reclam.de/search?query=textbuch&suchen=los%21) available. Unfortunately they show no interest for operettas either. But Reclam has issued this "Operettenführer", which apperently does contain a synopsis of each work.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41FSX1B7R0L._AA240_.jpg) (http://www.amazon.de/Reclams-Operettenf%C3%BChrer-Anton-W%C3%BCrz/dp/3150105129/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1197735775&sr=1-2)
I guess your best bet is to direct your queries to the likeminded - I'll send you via PM a link to a Dutch website, maybe they can help.
Q
Quote from: Que on December 15, 2007, 07:04:51 AM
Very annoying and distressing, Harry! :-\
The absence of texts is easily my biggest complaint concerning CD's. But it's often laziness and disinterest. I emailed EMI, who - mind you - even have a download facility on their website (http://www.emiclassics.com/sungtexts.php)!! - to ask them to make available in that way the texts of the five French baroque CD's now reissued in the "Musique à la Chapelle Royalle de Versailles" set. Their encouraging reply: "Yes sure, what CD is it?" Me: "The MCRV set"? Them: "Oh that, sorry we don't have any of those texts at our disposal" Me: "But you previously issued them with texts - just upload the textfiles on your site, please." EMI: silence....utter silence.
Maybe you could have a go at it yourself to persuade them (buy stocks in EMI! ;D).
Btw jpc is talking nonsense. They sell tons of opera recordings without a libretto. If a libretto is included is solely dependable on the manufacturer - it's not like that if a libretto is lacking, jpc would supply one! ::)
On the subject of librettos. German publishers Reclam and Schott have various libretti (http://www.reclam.de/search?query=textbuch&suchen=los%21) available. Unfortunately they show no interest for operettas either. But Reclam has issued this "Operettenführer", which apperently does contain a synopsis of each work.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41FSX1B7R0L._AA240_.jpg) (http://www.amazon.de/Reclams-Operettenf%C3%BChrer-Anton-W%C3%BCrz/dp/3150105129/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1197735775&sr=1-2)
I guess your best bet is to direct your queries to the likeminded - I'll send you via PM a link to a Dutch website, maybe they can help.
Q
I did get a similar reaction from EMI by the way. When these Lehar operettas were released, they came with full libretti, and now they profess, there are none to get. They are not interested....
Buying stocks in EMI, nah, that's a dead business, and I will likely loose my money double quick time. :P
There are many internet sites were you can find a story line of many operettas, much more as this book has to offer, I know, I have it.....
But thanks anyway for the job of searching for me.
And yes I know that JPC/CPO are talking nonsense, but about that I will have a talk with one of the senior members of that firm.....
Lets bump this thread in to being again, since I bought lots of operetta the last year, and my love for them has deepened not a little. It has preference over opera with me, and I guess this will get worse in a good sense. A few of the highlights I wanted to share here, and maybe some other operetta fans will declare themselves and give even more suggestions what to buy and where!
A box which I bought for 6 euro, at a big shopping mail provided me with some older but more than excellent recordings, containing 5 cd's with recordings from before 1960, and each of them a gem.
Operetta Festival indeed.
Another box with four cd's for 4 euro's is for me again a big winner, with many highlights from unknown operetta composers, as Ralph Benatzky's "Im Weissen Ross'l", and Paul Abraham's "Victoria und ihr Husar".
Lehar's "Paganini" is really a gem too, seldom performed, but a treasure nevertheless.
Another big surprise where to me to recordings issued by Line Music, to know Johann Strauss "Tausendundeine Nacht" a recording made in 1952, and every bit a smashing performance, where the wonderful Rita Streich, Helmut Krebs and Anneliese Rothenberger rule the stage. Fine performance and recording any time.
The second is Jabuka a recording from 1957 that features the wonderful soprano Anny Schlemm, and the renown Benno Kusche, not to forget Franz Fehringer that has a truly magical voice. A better recording this is as the more recent Naxos, which is not bad, have that too, but this is far beyond that.
Not too long ago, I bought (since it was on sale), Eine Nacht in Venedig with Elizabeth Scwartzkopf. Actually, I was looking for a pretty aria or two but found instead that most of the operetta really needed the stage to be fully appreciated. In fact, that may well be the problem of musicals and operettas recorded in sound. So much of the necessary visuals are missing. I might be wrong but Fledermaus seems to have the most interesting takeaway arias by Strauss: "Mein Herr Marquis", "Czardas", etc.
ZB
Eine nacht in Venedig is a beautiful operetta, and I would love to see it on stage, but fat change.... :P
So I am happy with the recordings, and this version you are talking about is beautiful.
Thank you for your comment, that is highly appreciated. :)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/411N0WM7SZL._SL500_AA240_.jpg) (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51uzLmwy29L._SL500_AA240_.jpg)
I have had these two Schwarzkopf operetta collections and decided I need more.....much more
So I placed order for the 1950s EMI series with Gedda/Schwarzkopf, what an amazing team for these sparkling works!
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41ZRNN88S8L._SL500_AA240_.jpg) (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41PPFW7Z5HL._SL500_AA240_.jpg) (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41EW64DMBSL._SL500_AA240_.jpg)
Quote from: DarkAngel on March 22, 2010, 10:25:29 AM
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/411N0WM7SZL._SL500_AA240_.jpg) (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51uzLmwy29L._SL500_AA240_.jpg)
I have had these two Schwarzkopf operetta collections and decided I need more.....much more
So I placed order for the 1950s EMI series with Gedda/Schwarzkopf, what an amazing team for these sparkling works!
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41ZRNN88S8L._SL500_AA240_.jpg) (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41PPFW7Z5HL._SL500_AA240_.jpg) (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41EW64DMBSL._SL500_AA240_.jpg)
Magical, there is a lot of amazing singing.
Quote from: Harry on March 22, 2010, 11:29:15 AM
Magical, there is a lot of amazing singing.
Wait there is more.......
I decided to play a quick catch up game with Gilbert & Sullivan operetta 5CD boxset by MacKerras, cheap at Amazon sellers! Should be excellent modern sound with Telarc.......
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61l7UFSHT7L.jpg)
Quote from: DarkAngel on March 22, 2010, 11:55:07 AM
Wait there is more.......
I decided to play a quick catch up game with Gilbert & Sullivan operetta 5CD boxset by MacKerras, cheap at Amazon sellers! Should be excellent modern sound with Telarc.......
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61l7UFSHT7L.jpg)
Will venture there too, and see if I can catch the same box. Thanks
Quote from: DarkAngel on March 22, 2010, 10:25:29 AM
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/411N0WM7SZL._SL500_AA240_.jpg) (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51uzLmwy29L._SL500_AA240_.jpg)
I have had these two Schwarzkopf operetta collections and decided I need more.....much more
So I placed order for the 1950s EMI series with Gedda/Schwarzkopf, what an amazing team for these sparkling works!
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41ZRNN88S8L._SL500_AA240_.jpg) (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41PPFW7Z5HL._SL500_AA240_.jpg) (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41EW64DMBSL._SL500_AA240_.jpg)
Also should mention they will join this classic rendition of Die Fledermaus to close the circle on Schwarzkopf's 1950s operetta champagne gala run for EMI........
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/510DywJraDL._SL500_AA280_.jpg)
If you can find the Boskovsky Das Land des Lächens - it has a libretto!!!! and it was an EMI release CDS 747 604. The vinyl (mono) from Angel with Schwarzkopf and Erich Kunz has a libretto, so it might be worth buying that just for the "extra".
Oscar STRAUS Die Lustigen Nibelungen (on Capriccio) really needs more than their short synopsis. The "banks of the Rhine" are financial institutions.... and another site with a google translation becomes inscrutable: "Oscar Straus' Nibelungen persiflage 1904 was the first major success of the composers. In this musical satire is not only to today as "typically German" existing stereotypes on grain, which composition, in the very style of the time especially from schmissigen waltzes, marches and couplets exists, is beyond a joke with accurate with the "great role model" Richard Wagner apart.
And to branch out, there are all those French operetta n Musidisc, from mono radio recordings:
Delibes Le Roi l'a dit, Adam: Toréador (also with Sumi Jo on London, with a libretto), Audran: Miss Helyett, La Poupee, Boieldieu: Le Calife de Bagdad, Les voitures versées, Ganne: Les Saltimbanques, Hans le joueur de flûte, Lecoq: Le coeur et la main, , La petite mariée, Hahn: Ciboulette (on EMI) that I have on CD
and look up Dostal - Clivia, Die Vetter von Dingsda, excerpts were on vinyl.
then there's the glories of the Spanish zarzuelas, but I'll leave that for later.
Music of dreams and romance...
Fritz Wunderlich "Dein ist mein ganzes Herz"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sru-tbwLwew
Quote from: zamyrabyrd on March 22, 2010, 11:35:21 PM
Music of dreams and romance...
Fritz Wunderlich "Dein ist mein ganzes Herz"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sru-tbwLwew
Ah, Fritz Wunderlich! Was there ever a more headily beautiful tenor voice? He was on the threshold of a very great career when he died. Even singing in German, his recordings of arias from Italian opera, outclass several Italian tenors. If ever I'm feeling down, then I listen to his fantastic recording of Lara's "Granada", guaranteed to lift the spirits.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7moPpoXdL8 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7moPpoXdL8)
(http://www.jpc.de/image/w600/front/0/4011222327642.jpg)
http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/Anneliese-Rothenberger-Die-Stimme-f%FCr-Millionen/hnum/2247232 (http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/Anneliese-Rothenberger-Die-Stimme-f%FCr-Millionen/hnum/2247232)
Harry
This seems to be a gift from the operetta gods..............a 10 CD collection of Rothenberger operetta highlights in good sound, check out those samples from JPC, the cost less than 1 full price CD! Amazon sellers USA also extremely cheap, order has been placed
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61KTEJ8EX0L._SL500_AA240_.jpg)
Also to save shipping costs I just ordered EMI Lehar 13 CD boxset containing 7 of Lehar's best operettas.
Not a super bargain, but same cost as buying/shipping 3 individual operettas so I took the plunge, many of the biggest names in operetta are in these performances
Quote from: DarkAngel on March 24, 2010, 07:10:52 AM
(http://www.jpc.de/image/w600/front/0/4011222327642.jpg)
http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/Anneliese-Rothenberger-Die-Stimme-f%FCr-Millionen/hnum/2247232 (http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/Anneliese-Rothenberger-Die-Stimme-f%FCr-Millionen/hnum/2247232)
Harry
This seems to be a gift from the operetta gods..............a 10 CD collection of Rothenberger operetta highlights in good sound, check out those samples from JPC, the cost less than 1 full price CD! Amazon sellers USA also extremely cheap, order has been placed
I ordered it, wow, thank you my friend, that is a real find!
Quote from: DarkAngel on March 24, 2010, 07:21:38 AM
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61KTEJ8EX0L._SL500_AA240_.jpg)
Also to save shipping costs I just ordered EMI Lehar 13 CD boxset containing 7 of Lehar's best operettas.
Not a super bargain, but same cost as buying/shipping 3 individual operettas so I took the plunge, many of the biggest names in operetta are in these performances
This box I treasure, its worth every penny spend on it.
Thanks, I have ordered the Rothenberger collection. A delectable singer. I have her on a couple of sets and one recital....so I look forward to a considerable fillup to her art.
Mike
Quote from: knight on March 24, 2010, 11:27:58 AM
Thanks, I have ordered the Rothenberger collection. A delectable singer. I have her on a couple of sets and one recital....so I look forward to a considerable fillup to her art.
Usually these ultra cheap 10 CD sets are full of poor sound quality material, but these samples sound very good, some of those works are completely unknown to me so quite an adventure ahead.....
I love the "youthful" sounding voice of Anneliese Rothenberger, Schwarzkopf is beautiful in operetta also but with a more mature sounding voice
Quote from: DarkAngel on March 22, 2010, 11:55:07 AM
Wait there is more.......
I decided to play a quick catch up game with Gilbert & Sullivan operetta 5CD boxset by MacKerras, cheap at Amazon sellers! Should be excellent modern sound with Telarc.......
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61l7UFSHT7L.jpg)
I did not really like the Gilbert & Sullivan works.......not really what I expected, more like broadway musicals and less like vienese operetta, just doesn't work well for me.......live and learn
On the plus side my EMI Lehar boxset arrived as well as my 10 CD Rothenberger set, onward I go
Quote from: DarkAngel on March 26, 2010, 11:06:34 AM
I did not really like the Gilbert & Sullivan works.......not really what I expected, more like broadway musicals and less like vienese operetta, just doesn't work well for me.......live and learn
I met the G&S music at an early age, so I'll not criticize a different reaction than mine. But if you want to do a bit of exploring, the Mike Leigh film
Topsy Turvy will give you some background particularly in reference to
The Mikado, and there are annotated texts of the works available.
Quote from: DarkAngel on March 26, 2010, 11:06:34 AM
I did not really like the Gilbert & Sullivan works.......not really what I expected, more like broadway musicals and less like vienese operetta, just doesn't work well for me.......live and learn
On the plus side my EMI Lehar boxset arrived as well as my 10 CD Rothenberger set, onward I go
You may send the box to me, I will treasure it. ;D
Quote from: DarkAngel on March 26, 2010, 11:06:34 AM
I did not really like the Gilbert & Sullivan works.......not really what I expected, more like broadway musicals and less like vienese operetta, just doesn't work well for me.......live and learn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9-ZZRXBEcM&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9-ZZRXBEcM&feature=related)
There are quite a few youtube segments of Gilbert & Sullivan works, they seem to revel in the British sport of satire and lampooning politicians, nobility and other easy targets for the entertainment of the middle/working class......once I
see the song performed I get a few smiles
This may give me a new perspective on G & S
Quote from: DarkAngel on March 24, 2010, 07:10:52 AM
(http://www.jpc.de/image/w600/front/0/4011222327642.jpg)
http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/Anneliese-Rothenberger-Die-Stimme-f%FCr-Millionen/hnum/2247232 (http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/Anneliese-Rothenberger-Die-Stimme-f%FCr-Millionen/hnum/2247232)
Harry
This seems to be a gift from the operetta gods..............a 10 CD collection of Rothenberger operetta highlights in good sound, check out those samples from JPC, the cost less than 1 full price CD! Amazon sellers USA also extremely cheap, order has been placed
Some info.......
10 Cds come in cardboard clamshell box, each CD in thin cardboard sleeve with basic track info, no booklet. These are all mono tracks from the mid 1950s, almost all are studio versions in very good sound.
These are highlights and not complete works featuring Annelise Rothenberger, there are some popular songs that are repeated with multiple different performances.....also some rare material you will be hard pressed to find elsewhere.
These represents Rothenberger at her artisitic peak vocal years, for operetta fans this is an
essential purchase and ultra cheap........Amazon sellers USA $12.35
Quote from: DarkAngel on March 26, 2010, 11:06:34 AM
I did not really like the Gilbert & Sullivan works.......not really what I expected, more like broadway musicals and less like vienese operetta, just doesn't work well for me.......live and learn
Gilbert and Sullivan's operettas are the antithesis of European musical art forms of the 19th century.
Quote from: bricon on March 27, 2010, 03:18:22 PM
Gilbert and Sullivan's operettas are the antithesis of European musical art forms of the 19th century.
Yes after I saw some youtube video segments I now better understand what they are about, now I see them in a different light
Quotehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9-ZZRXBEcM&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9-ZZRXBEcM&feature=related)
There are quite a few youtube segments of Gilbert & Sullivan works, they seem to revel in the British sport of satire and lampooning politicians, nobility and other easy targets for the entertainment of the middle/working class......once I see the song performed I get a few smiles
This may give me a new perspective on G & S
Sorry this is completely off topic but can we change the thread title? - there's two complelely gratuitous pieces of punctuation in there which are rather irksome. Almost as much as that "DeBussy" thread!!
Quote from: Guido on March 31, 2010, 03:33:37 AM
Sorry this is completely off topic but can we change the thread title? - there's two complelely gratuitous pieces of punctuation in there which are rather irksome. Almost as much as that "DeBussy" thread!!
If you listened, to some operettas (the sillier and more rediculous, the better), you might even begin to appreciate it...just a thought... :D
What kind of surreal world are you living in?! :)
Quote from: Guido on March 31, 2010, 11:18:46 AM
What kind of surreal world are you living in?! :)
Poor guy! Thinks I'm the one who needs help... ;)
Quote from: Harry on March 24, 2010, 11:15:28 AM
I ordered it, wow, thank you my friend, that is a real find!
and for more Rothenburger, google suggests you go to:
Rothenberger USA
Pipe Tools, Threading, Bending Cable Pulling, Discount Prices ;D
(ad at the top of the page)
Quote from: DarkAngel on March 24, 2010, 07:21:38 AM
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61KTEJ8EX0L._SL500_AA240_.jpg)
Also to save shipping costs I just ordered EMI Lehar 13 CD boxset containing 7 of Lehar's best operettas.
Not a super bargain, but same cost as buying/shipping 3 individual operettas so I took the plunge, many of the biggest names in operetta are in these performances
Harry you are right.............this is a set to treasure, all stereo set with large booklet, even the lesser known works were great fun and beautifully sung, Merry Widow included in this box is Welser-Most 1993.
I think we need one more thing to complete our operetta collection, a good DVD of Merry Widow, these two seem to be the best, are you with me.......what do you think?
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41jCL1aGz7L._SL500_AA300_.jpg) (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51DdaDfg3sL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Quote from: DarkAngel on April 02, 2010, 05:31:05 PM
Harry you are right.............this is a set to treasure, all stereo set with large booklet, even the lesser known works were great fun and beautifully sung, Merry Widow included in this box is Welser-Most 1993.
I think we need one more thing to complete our operetta collection, a good DVD of Merry Widow, these two seem to be the best, are you with me.......what do you think?
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41jCL1aGz7L._SL500_AA300_.jpg) (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51DdaDfg3sL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
I am with you all the way! ;D I am on the verge of starting to build up a DVD collectie of the finest operetta's around, only wish they were in Blu-Ray already.
Quote from: DarkAngel on April 02, 2010, 05:31:05 PM
I think we need one more thing to complete our operetta collection, a good DVD of Merry Widow, these two seem to be the best, are you with me.......what do you think?
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51DdaDfg3sL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycdIe-i0PME&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycdIe-i0PME&feature=related)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBikRpPM8Dk&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBikRpPM8Dk&feature=related)
This version looks like a real winner, live from outdoor performance with fireworks show at the end
(must deal with occassional applause)
The 10 Annelise Rothenberger discs have arrived. Life enhancing stuff. I thought I would not make my way through the entire set, but I am enjoying the discs a lot by playing one a day.
There are a lot of duets with other post war singers and melody abounds. I looked forward to the Merry Widow excerpts, but there seemed less satisfactory than the other performances. There is a bit of mucking the music about with altered vocal lines. Some pieces are deservedly forgotten, but there is lots to enjoy and Rothenberger is a lovely presence in all that she sings.
Mike
Quote from: knight on April 04, 2010, 10:58:05 PM
The 10 Annelise Rothenberger discs have arrived. Life enhancing stuff. I thought I would not make my way through the entire set, but I am enjoying the discs a lot by playing one a day.
There are a lot of duets with other post war singers and melody abounds. I looked forward to the Merry Widow excerpts, but there seemed less satisfactory than the other performances. There is a bit of mucking the music about with altered vocal lines. Some pieces are deservedly forgotten, but there is lots to enjoy and Rothenberger is a lovely presence in all that she sings.
Mike
There is some lesser known cheesey stuff thrown in there, sounds like some cheap silly Broadway tunes but also some hidden gems I had never heard before........for the ultra cheap price it's a must buy!