Customer Reviews

The Great Moments from Die Fledermaus

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First off, I must admit that my tolerance for operettas is pretty low. To watch and listen to all those 'supposed' singing ACTORS pretending to have a high-old-time, makes me a bit nervous. They are simply NOT acting. What, I guess, they have been coached to do is to EMphasize EVery NOUN, VERB & GERund in the SCRIPT-and with disastrous, self-conscious results. (If you'd like to see/hear the height of self-conscious performers try the new Metropolitan Opera production of "The Merry Widow" with everyone pretend-flirting and shouting and doing that fake opera laugh at every opportunity.) That said, this recording of Johann Strauss' "Die Fledermaus" is quite wonderful. The small bit of dialogue in this highlights CD is handled well & with ease. With singing actors, some of whom have actually played roles in Broadway musicals, the text gets full due and the singing is quite fine. Sergio Franchi (the co-star of the Richard Rodgers/Stephen Sondheim/Arthur Laurents musical "Do I Hear A Waltz?") as 'Alfred' and Anna Moffo as 'Rosalinda' are terrific leads. Even better are George London as 'Falke' and Jeanette Scovotti as 'Adele.' Also tops as 'Orlofsky' is that under-rated American mezzo who, for some reason, made so few recordings in her international career: Rise Stevens. Her "Carmen" has always been a staple of the RCA catalogue but until recently her "Orpheus & Euridice" and "Samson & Dalila" were unavailable. The Vienna State Opera Orchestra & Chorus under Oscar Danon sound great in this 1963 recording re-released in the High Performance (HP) series for BMG.

With this cast, this recording should have been so much better. It seems to have been badly under-rehearsed. Some of the ensemble work is just a shambles. Imprecision is rife. Yet there are some wonderful moments. George London steals the show with his solo, "Here's to health & happiness." The early interplay between Moffo & Franchi is delightful. But overall, this recording just fails to ignite. The performers are curiously detached from each other, as though they each recorded their parts independently on different days. Such a pity!

The sublime Anna Moffo in radiant voice at her peak surrounded by a first rate cast in an excellent translation -only wish it was complete instead of just excerpts!

This is so much fun! It's a shame that this is a "selections only" version rather than the complete work. That said, "Die Fledermaus" is not a great serious work, but a bon-bon. And what a delightful bon-bon!

First, the cast. An interesting combination. Anna Moffo is a delightful Rosalinda; her lush voice works well here. Jeanette Scovotti as Adele may be less well known, but her work is fine indeed (way back when, I owned the Reader's Digest "Operetta" collection, in which these two reversed roles). Rise Stevens, an estimable mezzo, sings Orlofsky with a nice touch. Sergio Franchi plays Alfredo. Eisenstein is well sung by Richard Lewis. George London, a mainstay at the Met, took on Falke. Finally, John Hauxvell sang Frank. And they all seem to be having a grand old time in the singing. The Vienna State Opera Orchestra and Chorus are well led by Oscar Danon.

Second, the singing. The English translation is hardly great art. But the infectious presentation by the singers renders this close to irrelevant. "Calamity, Catastrophe" has everyone in a dither, with a quick tempo that catches the listener up in the excitement. Rise Stevens does a wonderful turn in "More often than not. . .Chacun a son gout." Well sung indeed. Adele's "Oh for the life of an actress" is an affecting piece, with Jeanette Scovotti doing a nice job singing.

So, if you want an infectious, fun version of "Die Fledermaus" (even with a rather lame English translation), this will work well for you.

Terrific recording of highlights from Strauss' "Die Fledermaus", sung in English by Anna Moffo and Sergio Franchi in lead roles with Vienna State Opera Orchestra. Anna Moffo's voice is simply sublime and her magnificent performance demonstrates why she is one of the finest sopranos. First rate cast also includes the wonderful Rise Stevens in fine voice. Sound quality is excellent and stereo. I have only one complaint - why did they not release the full version instead of merely highlights? This disc left me wanting more of this delightful opera.

I concur that this is one of the best 'Die Fledermaus's' out. The best is the full length version in German recorded at the same time with almost the identical cast. Why RCA Victor Red Seal has not rereleased it on CD is a mystery. I have tried contacting RCA on several occations but with no response. 'Die Fledermaus' must be listened to in German for its true comic flavor. Oskar Danon has conducted the brightest, most sparkling, most exciting 'Fledermaus' I have ever heard. The English highlights version gives just a taste of that brilliance.

Oscar Danon is the real star of ths recording. His conducting keeps things light and bubbly, just as it should be.

The English translation is acceptable but nothing dazzling, and some of the words and phrases seem awkward. (Purists will argue FLEDERMAUS is best heard in it's original German. For that, go to Decca's wonderful 1960 set which includes the wonderful gala sequence featuring an all-star cast.)

Anna Moffo is a fine Rosalinda and Jeanette Scovotti is perfect for Adele. (The two ladies switched roles that same year to record highlights for Readers Digest TREASURY OF GREAT OPERETTAS.) Rise Stevens is a bit of a plum as Prince Orlofsky, somehwat past her prime and oversinging "A Most Successful Host." Sergio Franchi does better with Alfred and Richard Lewis does fine as Eisenstein.

The Ball scene is given the larger piece of the recording, probably because this is where the opera's most famous "hit tunes" originate.

FLEDERMAUS is very much a piece of another world...a long forgotten time when Vienna was all glitter and balls and waltzes. They had the right attitude then: In the rest of the world the situation was often serious, but not hopeless. The Vienese viewed the situation as being hopeless - but never serious.

THAT is the spirit of this fun recording.

I would like to add to the discussion that this recording was made at the same time that almost the same cast recorded the complete Fledermaus for RCA Red Seal in German. They were released together. I always enjoyed listening to the two of them back to back and enjoyed both. Now the English recording is available in a digitalized CD, I have added it to the collection. Now I want the complete one as well....please RCA Red Seal give it to us.

Having listened to this CD many more times since I wrote the previous review, I am persuaded that I was unduly harsh towards it. The deficiencies I mention are present, but not to the extent that I initially thought. Overall it is a delicious, witty, effervescent account that I now rate among my favourite recordings - it never fails to give me a lift, & I recommend it highly.

This is a delightful 1963 recording of highlights from the Johann Strauss operetta "Die Fledermaus", sung in English by major stars of the day, and accompanied by the Vienna State Opera Orchestra. Anna Moffo sparkles in the role of Rosalinda, showing quite clearly why she was regarded as one of the finest singing actresses of her time. The great mezzo Rise Stevens, at the end of her career here, has a grand time as a throaty Count Orlofsky. Jeanette Scovotti is quite good in the soubrette role of Adele, her light, bright voice contrasting nicely with Moffo's rich, sensuous soprano. The men in the cast are equally good. Richard Lewis, George London and John Hauxvell are all in fine voice and lend a splendid comic flair to the proceedings. The English translations are well done and easy to understand. Uncork a bottle of champagne, sit back and let this recording take you back to Old Vienna!