Die Fledermaus

Great sound, sterling performances all around, done in echt-sounding Viennese accents and dialect (e.g. "Sofe" for "Dienstmaedchen"). Though there are no cuts, there is no extended gala performance in Act II as is semi-traditional, but that just leaves the length (137 min.) more manageable for an evening at the operetta. One standout is Windgassen, a big burly Heldentenor who would look at home in a wresting arena, cast contrary to type as the world-weary, effete Prince Orlofsky, a role usually played by a woman. The Vienna Philharmonic's performance under Karl Boehm is spirited and lively without overwhelming the performers, and director Otto Schenk does double duty in the non-singing role of the seriously drunken jailer Frosch. I paid $90 for a DVD of this operetta pressed in Japan, at that time the only version available, and consider it money well spent. Don't let it slip away now that it's so much more affordable!

Die Fledermaus is one of my favourites in the wonderful world of opera and operetta, and this is yet another one of my favourite productions of it. It has everything a production of Die Fledermaus should do, inspired stage directing, sumptuous costume and set design, superb dancing and choruses excellent video directing and sparkling dialogues delivered with aplomb. And we also have a superb orchestra and lively conducting from Karl Bohm that does perfect justice to the amazing music. The performances I cannot fault, especially Gundula Janawitz as Rosalinde, Ebhard Wachter as Eisenstein and Otto Schenk(also directing) as the drunken jailer Frosch, and the Prince is also excellent. All in all, a must see production. 10/10 Bethany Cox