Search - Johann II [Junior] Strauss, Richard Bonynge, San Francisco Opera Orchestra :: Johann Strauss Jr.: Die Fledermaus

Gorgeous voice

Cade M. Cannon | 05/11/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This opera is of course no challedge to Dame Joan's phenomenal technique. But it is just amazing to me how incredibly gorgeous her voice is here. Talk about total package!"

A sparkling performance, full of fun and great singing

jim_sf | San Francisco, CA United States | 01/25/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What a joy to find this recording! It was originally broadcast live from the San Francisco Opera in 1973. The cast is Joan Sutherland (Rosalinde), Nolan Van Way (Eisenstein), Judith Blegen (Adele), Ragnar Ulfung (Alfred), Huguette Tourangeau (Orlofsky), Bruce Yarnell (Falke), Daniel Sullivan (Dr. Blind), Spiro Malas (Frank), and Walter Slezak (Frosch). Richard Bonynge conducts.Musically, this performance just can't be beat. Sutherland sings with beauty, intelligence, and a sure flair for comedy. Judith Blegen sings Adele's two arias with an ease that eludes most Adeles. Her coloratura in the Laughing Song sounds more like laughter than usual, without any loss of tonal beauty. Bonynge supports the singers with tempi that bring out their best. Listen to the end of the first act, when the tempo slows and Sutherland floats a few high notes over the ensemble. This sounds more like the end of the sextet in Lucia than any other Fledermaus I have ever heard. And it works!But what really distinguishes this performance is that everybody is having fun and relishing every moment. At one point, Judith Blegen, who also studied violin, pulls out a violin and accompanies herself on it. Even Dame Joan pokes fun at herself: Spying her maid at Orlofsky's ball, she fumes, "It's Adele... and in MY gown... CUT DOWN!" Watergate was still a current event at the time of this broadcast, and the script is peppered with references to it: "The best of people are going to jail nowadays -- doctors, lawyers, even politicians" and "Are you telling the truth?... To the best of my recollection at this point in time." And could there ever be a better Frosch than Walter Slezak? Who else could handle low comedy while lending an air of Viennese charm?The performance is in English, with occasional forays into other languages. Listen for the moment when Eisenstein and Frank, both masquerading as Frenchmen, are encouraged to speak to each other in their native language. Their exchange is in most recordings of Fledermaus, but it is so much better here where they have the advantage of playing to an audience. And Sutherland sings the Czardas (beautifully) in Hungarian. According to the program notes, she later recalled with amusement that a review of this performance said that her rendition of the Czardas was so unintelligible it may as well have been sung in Hungarian. (Incidentally, her diction is fine in this recording. You will understand all of her dialog and almost all of her singing -- I never understand all of anyone's singing in opera.)In case it isn't obvious, I highly recommend this recording. If only there were a video...."

Need more information

Cade M. Cannon | Opelika, AL United States | 10/01/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This recording is great. I would almost reccommend this over Karajan's version in 1960 with Decca. I need more information. Obviously this is a live recording, but what about the rest of the cast. When was this recorded? Are the singers speaking or are there actors? And it sometimes it sounds like they're speaking dialogue in German and other times in English, so is this an English or German recording, in terms of the dialogue. Okay, enough of my questions, about the recording. Joan Sutherland voice is heart-breakingly georgeous. I've never heard "Der Heimat" sung that way before. The audience and the laughing is intoxicating,something you can't find in studio recordings. I laughed just listening to it. If someone can help me with my questions please e-mail me at cade_cannon@hotmail.com."