Search - Johann Strauss Jr., Ohio Light Opera, Steven Byess :: Strauss: A Night in Venice / Byess, Ohio Light Opera

A pleasing performance

F. Behrens | Keene, NH USA | 08/09/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As James Stuart, translator and artistic director of the Ohio Light Opera, points out in his notes, there are several versions of Johann Strauss' and so an "authentic" version is impossible. He might have added that since his production of that operetta is in English, any version would not quite be authentic; but his group is committed to opera in English and there we are. This is a complete "live" recording with a very polite and quiet audience (only one aria on the second CD and each finale get applause) and the stage noises are few and unobtrusive. While all of the singing is at least good, none of it is spectacular, and the reading of the dialogue still has that mechanical "operetta voice" quality that does nothing to help us sympathize with any of the silly goings on. The plot is a French farce staple: a man in lust tries to find sex and is outwitted at every turn, the "true" lovers are united, and every one agrees, as at the very end of "The Mikado," nothing could possibly be more satisfactory. In the past, Newport Classic label has separated the spoken dialogue from the music portions by convenient tracking. Here many of the spoken and sung segments are on the same track, so even the most careful programming can give you only the music. Perhaps future recordings should have only the music, because I find the dialogue a bit tedious after the first hearing. I also question why, if all the characters are supposed to be conversing in Italian, one character should speak with an "accent." Also, I am unable to find a German libretto with which to compare the lyrics, but it does place a great strain on a hearer without the English translation open when the songs are sprinkled with Italian words. As for the score itself, although every song is at least good, adequate, operetta stuff and although some of the Venetian music is quite lovely indeed (even evoking memories of "The Gondoliers"), none of it rises to the genius of "Fledermaus," although the plots of the two Strauss works are practically the same. But all this aside, this set (Newport Classic 85661/2) is an important addition to any collection of theater music and the Ohio folks are to be thanked for providing it."