Franz Lehar: Love Was A Dream [Super Audio CD - DSD]

Alfie Boe (Artist, Performer), Franz Lehar (Composer), Michael Rosewell (Conductor), The Orchestra of Scottish Opera (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Alfie Boe
• Orchestra: The Orchestra of Scottish Opera
• Conductor: Michael Rosewell
• Composer: Franz Lehar
• Audio CD (October 1, 2009)
• Please Note: Requires SACD-compatible hardware
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Super Audio CD - DSD
• Label: Linn Records
• ASIN: B002LARSWU
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #209,108 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

The award-winning star of the ENO and Covent Garden, Alfie Boe, has signed with Linn Records to record his labour of love; an album of Franz Lehár songs inspired by the recordings of Richard Tauber, his father's favourite singer.

Franz Lehár (1870 - 1948) wrote some of the most instantly recognisable and beautiful music in 20th century operetta producing songs that are charmingly lyrical and incredibly melodic.
Growing up listening to Richard Tauber Alfie discovered less frequently recorded repertoire full of Lehár's trademark drama and romance, included here alongside songs from the famously popular Merry Widow.
Alfie recorded Franz Lehár at Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall with the respected Orchestra of Scottish Opera and conductor Michael Rosewell, resulting in a delightfully live, cohesive sound.
Alfie Boe's incredible voice has won him many awards: a Tony Award for his performance on Broadway, the John McCormack Young Voice Award and the Lyric Tenor of the World Audience Award. He was also the only artist to be nominated in two categories at the 2008 Classical BRIT awards.
He has performed to critical acclaim at the Opera National du Rhin, Strasbourg and La Monnaie, Brussels. In concert Alfie has performed with the Philharmonia Orchestra, RLPO, LPO, Ulster Orchestra, RPO, Kristiansand Symfoniorkester, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra and Boston Symphony Orchestra.

His performances have charm and grace, his singing is secure and polished, and his engaging personality make him as popular in the business as he is with the public. The Telegraph

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Boe Sings Franz Lehár, September 22, 2011

By 

Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Franz Lehar: Love Was A Dream (Audio CD)

For those who have become enamored with the voice and musicianship of Alfred Boe, this recording of songs from the operettas of Franz Lehár will be met with excitement. This recording was made from May 19 - 21, 2009 in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and released in the UK that year. According to Boe, "I have to say that recording the album `Franz Lehar: Love was a Dream' was the most enjoyable recording sessions I have ever been involved in. The studio was the stage of The Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow. Normally when recording the voice you get separated from the orchestra but in this case I had the opportunity to stand and record my vocal in the middle of the string section. In my opinion this creates a solid connection with the players and forms a unity of sound. Also having the live connection with your conductor makes a huge difference. There were moments in the sessions when I really picked up on the melody of the instruments surrounding me and began to really understand their contribution to the score. The Orchestra of Scottish Opera were amazing, the control they had with the delicate musical structures and simplicity of sound, for the Lehar score, was perfection. I really hope we can work together again in the future.

Franz Lehár (30 April 1870 - 24 October 1948) and it is no exaggeration to say that his 1905 The Merry Widow (Die lustige Witwe) ushered in not only a new age in Viennese operetta, but was the work which showed the way for a new style of, purely twentieth-century, musical play. Between then and 1934, when his last stage work, Giuditta, was premiered, Lehár knew an almost uninterrupted success. He was the logical successor to Johann Strauss II as Vienna's waltz king, and his work inspired two generations of composers on both sides of the Atlantic. Honoring Lehár in this album seems appropriate for Boe whose voice and manner has been compared to the late Richard Tauber who premiered many of the roles Boe recreates. The German lyrics are translated into English and for the most part the lyrics work well as translations.

But it is Alfie Boe's creamy tenor voice that captures the flavor of these much loved arias/songs. Included in this album are ' Just believe it's true' Schon ist die Welt), Vilia (The Merry Widow), Girls were made to love and kiss (Paganini), Oh maiden, my maiden (Frederica, You are my heart's delight (The Land of Smiles), Love was a dream (Giuditta), Beautiful Italy (Paganini), Patiently Smiling (The Land of Smiles), Love unspoken (The Merry Widow), Friends, this is the life for me! (Giuditta), Beneath the window (The Land of Smiles), and Farewell, my love, farewell (Frasquita). There isn't a weak track here, though it does take a bit of readjustment to hear 'Vilia' sung by a male voice!

Alfie Boe continues to gather a large throng of supporters. He is well worthy of that acclaim. Grady Harp, September 11