Strauss: Die Fledermaus

Johann II [Junior] Strauss (Composer), Herbert von Karajan (Conductor), Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra), Leontyne Price (Performer), Joan Sutherland (Performer), Ettore Bastianini (Performer), Teresa Berganza (Performer), Walter Berry (Performer), Jussi Björling (Performer), Fernando Corena (Performer), Hilde Gueden (Performer), Peter Klein (Performer), Waldemar Kmentt (Performer), Erich Kunz (Performer), Erika Koth (Performer), Mario del Monaco (Performer), Birgit Nilsson (Performer), Regina Resnik (Performer), Giulietta Simionato (Performer), Renata Tebaldi (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Leontyne Price, Joan Sutherland, Ettore Bastianini, Teresa Berganza, Walter Berry, et al.
• Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Herbert von Karajan
• Composer: Johann II [Junior] Strauss
• Audio CD (September 13, 2005)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B0000041TC
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #148,205 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #10 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Nilsson, Birgit
  • #26 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Price, Leontyne
  • #29 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Sutherland, Joan

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act I: Overture

2. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act I: Täubchen, das entflattert ist

3. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act I: Da schreibt meine Schwester Ida

4. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act I: Nein, mit solchen Advokaten

5. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act I: Komm mit mir zum Souper

6. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act I: So muß allein ich bleiben

7. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act I: Trinke, Liebchen, trinke schnell

8. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act I: Ich höre Stimmen; man spricht unten!

9. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act I: Mein Herr, was dächten Sie von mir

10. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act I: Nein, nein, ich zweifle gar nicht mehr

See all 17 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act II: Herr Chevalier, ich grüße Sie!

2. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act II: Gala; Vilja-Lied

3. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act II: Gala; Vilja-Lied

4. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act II: Gala; I Could Have Danced All Night

5. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act II: Gala; Passione

6. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act II: Gala; Lullaby

7. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act II: Gala; Il bacio

8. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act II: Gala; Dein ist mein ganzes Herz

9. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act II: Gala; Summertime

10. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act II: Gala; Anything You Can Do

See all 16 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superlative recording with lost gala tradition intact, November 24, 2004

By 

William Rowcliffe "Opera Lover" (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Strauss: Die Fledermaus (Audio CD)

This is one of the grand old recordings from the glory days of the mid-sixties. It has opulent casting and even more opulent sound values. I doubt that anyone will quibble about the overall quality of this venture. Therefore I just wanted to address a couple of complaints that appeared in another review of this recording. First of all, the role of Orlofsky was written for a mezzo and NOT for a tenor. Strauss was very deliberately following the long tradition of having women sing "trouser" roles. Just think of Gluck's Orphee or Mozart's Cherubino in his Marriage of Figaro. To have a man sing the role of the dissolute Fledermaus prince destroys the original vision. Second, the gala that appears is a quaint, and lost, tradition that flourished throughout the early history of this operetta. The second act party scene was a place where opera companies would trot out their roster of stars, or guest artists, to show off their singing in areas of music not usually associated with them. That's why you have Birgit Nilson singing a Broadway show tune. Call it camp if you will, but it was a very deliberate decision for her to have some fun with unusual repertoire. Looked at from this angle, the gala becomes a unique feature of this recording, making it all the more valuable for the collector. Don't hesitate to buy this one!

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The biggest array of operatic superstars on one stage, ever!, May 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Strauss: Die Fledermaus (Audio CD)

This is AMAZING! LOOK at the cast during the gala scene! It is a who's who among operatic superstars! Dame Joan Sutherland, Birgit Nilsson, Leontyne Price, Renata Tebaldi, Jussi Björling, Mario Del Monaco, Regina Resnik, Ettore Bastianini, Giulietta Simionato, Eberhard Wächter, Ljuba Welitsch, Teresa Berganza, Walter Berry, Fernando Corena and more. I don't think I've ever seen such an array of stars in one place in my life. This is a once in a life time event! A must have!

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Opera Singers Enjoy A Masquerade, October 9, 2005

By 

Rudy Avila "Saint Seiya" (Lennox, Ca United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Strauss: Die Fledermaus (Audio CD)

Any serious hardcore fan of classic opera singers will want to own this studio recording from the 60's. Johann Strauss' charming and sempiternally popular "grand" operetta Die Fledermaus as conducted by none other than Herbert Von Karajan and the Vienna Symphony and starring opera singers that reigned supreme during their day-Birgit Nilsson, Leontyne Price, Renata Tebaldi, Mario Del Monaco, Regina Resnik, Bjussi Bjorling, Ettore Bastianini, Eberhard Wächter, Giuletta Simionato, Ljuba Welitsch, Walter Berry, Teresa Berganza and Fernando Corena. I'm disappointed Beverly Sills wasn't invited or for that matter Maria Callas. These singers are of course part of the long-winded entertainment during the MasqueradeSequence/Orlofsky's Ball. This is what draws operaphiles to this particular studio recording. Karajan is having fun witht the score, and it is a piece of cake for him since it is not the normally demanding music he conducted - Puccini, Strauss, Verdi, Wagner, Mahler, Bruckner, etc. It is lilting waltzes with operatic words to them. The Masquerade strays from the Strauss score and we are treated to unusual "American" music. Wagnerian goddess Birgit Nilsson surprises everyone by taking off her Valkyrie helmet and singing "I Could Have Danced All Night" from My Fair Lady! It must be heard to believe! Of course, it's awful but it makes this recording a cult classic in its campy and cheesy effects. Furthermore to Nilsson singing Broadway, we get to hear Giuletta Simionato and Ettore Bastianini, with their low husky voice singing "Everything You Can Do I Can Do Better". Operatic arias are included, in tidbits as sung by Leontyne Price, Renata Tebaldi, Bjussi Bjorling and the forementioned others. This is a real treat if your'e a fan. At an affordable price on the Used section it should be a real value for you. Don't hesitate to buy this recording now! It is endless pleasure!