Customer Reviews

My Heart Alone: Favorite Operetta Arias and Duets

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4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
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An aging minority of listeners will never forget the golden age of Viennese operetta as recorded by EMI in the early Fifties, but it's time for an update -- the Marzipan mitt Schlag coyness of typical operetta productions nowadays begs for something better. Here we have it -- two glamaorous singers with impeccable style and musicality performing these chestnuts absolutely straight. Will this attract new listeners? I don't know, but I was delighted.

Keenlyside and Kirchschlager have been lieder partners for a while, and this operetta program finds them very comfortable with each ohter. They don't flirt, which is a shame, but they don't ham it up, either, which is a relief. Keenlyside does a reasonable imitaiton of a creamy-voiced matinee idol, and Kirchschlater fills in any awakwardness with her to-the-manner-born stylishness. Much of the music has been transposed down for baritone and mezzo, the originals being for tenor and soprano, but that's minor. The Viennese operetta stage always made room for singers in every range. Sony's sound is excellent, as is the frothy but sensitive conducting of Alfred Eschwe.

I'll never get other, older voices out of my head, but for now this CD sets the standard vocally and musically in this evergreen repertoire.

Here's the complete program:

Káhmán: Die Csárdásfurstin - Weisst dues noch; Tanzen mocht' ich. Das Veilchen von Montmartre -Heut' Nacht hab' ich getraumt von dir. Die Zirkusprinzessin - Wieder hinaus ins strahiende Licht

Lehar: Giuditta --Meine Lippen, sie kussen so heiss. Die lustige Witwe - Dah geh' ich zu Maxim; VilJa-Lied; Lippen schweigen, 's flUstem Geigen. Die Zigeunerliebe - Nur die Liebe macht uns Jung. Das Land des Lächelns - Dein ist mein ganzes Herz

Mihhöcker: Gasparone - Dunkeirote Rosen

Stolz: Der Favorit - Du solist der Kaiser meiner Seele sein

J Strauss II: Die Fledermaus - Ich lade gem mir Gäste em. Die Thnzerin Fanny Elssler - Draussen in Sievering bluht schon der Flieder

Suppé: Boccaccio --Mia bella fiorentina; Hab' ich nur deine Liebe

Angelika Kirchschlager mezzo
Simon Keenlyside baritone
Tonkunstler Orchestra of Lower Austria
Alfred Eschwé, conductor

The title says it all really 'My Heart Alone' because the tracks sung in solo and duet by the two artists are lyrical tunes from operetta, some familiar and some not so familiar. Keenlysides's voice is expressive, charming and attractive. Likewise Kirchslager is at home with her songs. The CD is pleasant to listen to, radiates warmth and tugs at the heart.

Well i am an opera fun for sure, but when i listen to operetta...really i am dreaming of beautiful Vienna.I had attended in 1998 for the first time Mrs Angelika Kirchschlager in "die fledermaus" in Vienna staatsoper(she was Prince Orlofsky)..She was magnificent and we all believed that she would have a brilliant career.That is true now.In this cd she is beautiful and with her songs make you travel to traditional Vienna.Simon Keenlyside is marvelous too.Their duets are admirable.
All the cds of operetta i have are much older than this.i am not aware of a nowadays operetta cd other than this .I think it is must for all fans of this music.
The best tracks are from Giuditta (meine lippen-sung by anna netrebko in "souvenirs"), Die lustige Witwe and of course Dein ist mein ganzes Herz which is a great song really.

What i didnt like? Sorry, the title,it wasn't necessary to be in English..but no one is perfect !!

Done right, operettas fall between grand opera and schmalz. In this CD the singing and the selection are just pitch perfect. Both singers have hugely successful singing careers; together they make a perfect couple. Their singing is beautiful without being excessively sweet. My wife and I play this at least once a month, often for breakfast, it's just so pleasant to hear.

If you love Viennese music; if you love fine singing; if you smile each time you hear waltzes, Kalman operettas, Lehar, Johann Strauss, etc., etc - then you'll love this recording. People may write about the delights of Keenlyside and Kirchschlager and the nostalgia of this music - so take that as 'read'- and take this CD for a spin. You'll love every second of it and the sun will shine each time you play it.

I would preferred a more joyful selection of songs from the same operettas, but it's okay.