Search - Ohio Light Opera, Michael Borowitz :: Bluebeard

A frustrating "Bluebeard"

David O. Roberts | New York | 03/29/2010

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Once again Ohio Light Opera has filled a sorely-lacking gap in recorded operetta, and once again, the results are mixed and extrememly frustrating ! Up till now, there was only one "complete" recording of this delightful Offenbach piece (from French radio in 1967), and it had three annoying charateristics: too much reverberation in sound, a tedious "narration", and was marred by several cuts. This recording is complete, thank heaven, and has much going for it. It is conducted with great verve and energy by Michael Borowitz. The English version by Richard Traubner is remarkably witty. It's when we get into casting that we run into trouble. The Bluebeard, however, is exemplary. Peter Foltz has exactly the right kind of bright tenor sound for this fach, and, better yet, a true understanding of the style required. He sings with great personality and brio. The rest of the cast is variable, but, as so often in the Ohio shows, seems to lack the necessary stylistic requirements. When they go for a "humurous" effect, sometimes it's heavy and overdone. They don't seem to understand that this kind of score should not be sung like a "grand opera", but more like a musical. There's generally way too much vibrato employed. In the case of the leading female role, Boulotte, this problem is extreme- she's almost unlistenable, with a wobble large enough to drive a Mack truck through.

Until one of the leading classical labels does a good professional studio recording ( or from a decent live performance), I think I'll stick with the old French radio version - but I may play some of Peter Foltz's bits now and then !"