VHS : Johann Strauss - Die Fledermaus / Bonynge, Cox, Ashton, Royal Opera
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Editorial Review:
Amazon.com:
This is a capable, mildly eccentric, and thoroughly enjoyable production of Johann Strauss's witty, melodious, and charmingly frivolous comedy about elaborate practical jokes, faked identities, long-deliberated revenge, and the power of champagne. The singing is idiomatic, the spirit infectiously jovial, the acting polished and witty. Hard-core lovers of Die Fledermaus in its traditional form may have a few reservations. It is performed in a clever English translation by an English and American cast with a flavor more evocative of London than of Vienna. And the role of the decadent Prince Orlofsky, usually assigned to a female mezzo-soprano in trousers, is taken by a male countertenor, a meaningless gain in realism at the expense of a time-honored tradition that is one of the show's best perennial jokes.
These are small points, but for the treatment of the Fledermaus music, without other considerations, I would pick another Covent Garden video production, the 1984 gala, starring Kiri Te Kanawa, Hermann Prey, and Benjamin Luxon, with Placido Domingo conducting and, in the last act, singing a few notes.
That becomes irrelevant, however, because this production preserves a very special occasion: the 1990 New Year's Eve Gala in which Joan Sutherland made a cameo appearance--her Covent Garden farewell performance--during the party scene. She brought with her two of the outstanding partners in her career, Marilyn Horne and Luciano Pavarotti. All were in very good voice, and they rose to the occasion with some extraordinary singing. Highlights of the hors d'oeuvres include Sutherland's simple, eloquent 'Home, Sweet Home,' Horne's performance of 'Mon coeur s'ouvre a ta voix' from Samson et Dalila, and Sutherland and Pavarotti in the heart-breaking duet 'Parigi, o cara' from La Traviata. --Joe McLellan
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Uma bela opereta e uma comovente despedida
O "Morcego" é uma das operetas mais felizes de todos os tempos. Ainda mais com a tradição de dispor números diferentes, verdadeiros shows, na metade do segundo ato. Esta parte, alíás, vale pela peça toda: cintila de tal forma que, as vezes, empana o brilho do restante da opereta. Mas é uma obra que se deve ter em uma dvdteca, principalmente se você aprecia boa música, alegre e despretenciosa, embora não descartável.
Quanto ao dvd em questão: as vozes são excelentes, as ... Read More
Rating:  - A very English Fledermaus
This is a very special night at the opera. Die Fledermaus has always been a favorite with English audiences and in this Royal Opera House production, performed in the presence of the then Prime Minister, John Major, they make it their own. Having John Mortimer write an English libretto and casting the comedian John Sessions as the jailer were inspirational decisions. The result is quirky, eccentric, and endlessly enjoyable.
The superb singing of Nancy Gustafson and Judith Howarth ... Read More
Rating: - Extremely Good
Well, what can I say about this DVD performance. I have to say that this is one beautiful performance of Die Fledermaus by Strauss. What opera is good without the voices of Great tenors and sopranos of the world. In Act 2, Sutherland and Luciano Pavoritti make an appreance and sing some opera arias and duets. I wish Pavoritti and Sutherland would have sung the whole opera by strauss but I'm still very satisfied the way this production of Die Fledermaus turned out. I strongly recommend this DVD to ... Read More
Rating: - enjoyable fledermaus, if a bit bloated
This is the first full Fledermaus production I've seen. I got it because I'm doing a scene from Fledermaus in an opera workshop (Colonel Frank), and I thought it might be helpful. Unfortunately, the translation we're using (and some of the music) is totally different. I thought the Fledermaus was good, although I don't have much basis for comparison. Others have mentioned that the opera is almost simply a picture frame for 'Prince Orlovsky's guests', especially the farewell to Joan Sutherland. ... Read More
Rating: - Great Fledermaus!
It's sung in English so that appeals to the non-german speakers as much of the humour will be grasped. If you know the operetta well enough, you also get the gist when Rosalinde sings the Czardas in Hungarian! The counter-tenor Orlofsky was also hilarious. Well-sung, too! Bonaventura Bottone was in superb voice and there were lots of cracks at italian tenors...this DVD also provides a good highlight selection of various operas including a fondness for La Traviata...hysterical! A must for opera lovers. ... Read More
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