Search - J. Strauss, Stefanoff, Glatte :: Johann Strauss: Das Spitzentuch der Königin

More Strauss! Another opera re-discovered.

Brett Farrell | Cape May, NJ USA | 06/29/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"`Das Spitzentuch der Konigin' has come out along with two other lost Strauss operetta gems ('Jabuka' and 'Furstin Ninetta' on Naxos) and it could not come soon enough. As my lust for Strauss operetta's is being gratifyingly indulged beyond my wildest dreams I happened to read in the included booklet that at least one more lost Strauss operetta will be recorded and released by CPO soon and maybe even two. Apparently the Staatsoperette Dresden along with CPO plan on releasing `Der Carneval in Rom' and `Prinz Methusalem' as well. I will be searching Amazon US and Germany almost daily for their release. Now if only CPO had a website I would know at the moment of release. Especially as this recording seemed to be released with very little fanfare. I know it's new but I only accidently found by typing 'J Strauss CPO'.

But enough about things yet to come. We have `Das Spitzentuch der Konigin' now and thank heavens. Like all of Strauss's operetta's (Minus Zigeunerbaron) we have a sparkling, sprightly, and charming work of music that never fails to delight the ears. And like all CPO releases it's well preformed and well recorded. It includes the dialogue but fortunately the dialogue is on separate tracks so you can skip right past it. The music is beautiful and light and like most Strauss pieces it can lift your spirits when listened to. I have all of Strauss's operettas saved completely on my I-pod and whenever I'm feeling a little sour I play one of them and I start to lift right up.

The story is about Cervantes (of Don Quixote authorship) time in Portugal in the royal court and intrigues between he, the king of Portugal, his new queen, and a power hungry and manipulative advisor to the King. It's an amazingly but not surprisingly complicated plot that you will have to buy the CD and read the book to understand for yourself. The included book has no libretto but a detailed history on the operetta and pages long synopsis.

Regardless of the plot this is a marvelous piece of music and worthy of any Strauss fan or operetta fan. The music is crisp and delightful and of course addictive. I can hardly wait for the other promised pieces to be released.

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