Strauss (Johann): Die Fledermaus - Prey, Te Kanawa, Heichele, Luxon, Tear, Langdon; Mehta. London, 1977

$7.77



Listen to a Sample:


Pros:

  • Die Fledermaus is more than an opera, it is a celebration. Although musically it is devilishly difficult to pull off - requiring laser attention from the cast and a rock-solid technique from the conductor - it only really works if there is a sense of fun. And this performance has that in spades.
  • Hermann Prey is the gold-standard for all Eisensteins. He brings an effortless charm to the role which goes a long way in helping you forget that the character is basically a narcissist.
  • Kiri Te Kanawa brings starpower to the role of Rosalinde.
  • Hildegard Heichele's voice has a little more heft than your garden variety Adele.
  • The rest of the cast rises to the occasion, particularly Benjamin Luxon as Falke, and Robert Tear as Orlofsky.
  • There are some special guests during the Act II party scene, including Daniel Barenboim who plays Chopin's G-minor Ballade and Isaac Stern who plays the third movement of Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto.

Cons:

  • There is definitely more dialogue than music in this performance, and although the audience seems engaged throughout, for much of it I have to assume that "you had to be there."

In Mono

OD 12037-3