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Die Fledermaus
Carlos Kleiber, Conductor
Pamela Coburn, Eberhard Wäcter, Wolfgang Brendel, Janet Perry, Brigitte Fassbaender, Josef Hopferwieser
Composer: Johann Strauss II
Librettist: Carl Haffner & Richard Genee
This is a great alternative to the performance conducted by Placido Domingo. It doesn't have the huge party feel to it, but there is still the sense of fun in the performance that makes it enjoyable to watch. Carlos Kleiber has the ability to bring an orchestra and a group of actors to life in his own distinctive way. (I previously mentioned Le Nozze di Figaro here but in fact the recording I'm thinking of is conducted by Erich Kleiber. Oops. Apparently there are multiple Kleibers!) Plus, this one's available on DVD already.
This is Die Fledermaus as it was written, entirely in German and without any extra "guests" in Act II. It proves that the work can more than stand on its own, humorous and touching.
Pamela Coburn does a good job as Rosalinde. She has a beautiful voice, and her performance of the Hungarian czardàs is quite lovely. Eberhard Wächter is a great Eisenstein, though less loveable and consequently less harmless than Prey. Where Prey seems pretty much oblivious to his own faults, Wächter's character seems to more fully appreciate that he shouldn't be chasing other women. In this light I was even more eager to see him get his, but his repentance at the end was also all the more sincere. He's still quite funny, too.
Brigitte Fassbaender's Prince Orlofsky is really fantastic. Unlike the over-the-top Doris Soiffel of the Domingo video, Fassbaender's prince is a bit more realistic and human, but she loses none if the humor inherent in the role. You really get a kick out of the scene where she finally bursts out laughing.
Wolfgang Brendel as Dr. Falke does a good job, although I preferred Benjamin Luxon's more lighthearted take on the role. However, Brendel comes through at the end, merrily dumping champagne (I think it's champagne) on the befuddled Eisenstein. Janet Perry's Adele steals the show with gorgeous coloratura singing and pretty good acting to boot. Josef Hopferwieser's Alfred is very funny. I like how he keeps bursting into song in Act III.
I really enjoyed watching this. I think everyone will, both the purists (who'll find little if anything amiss here) and those who are looking mainly for humor.
| Originally Reviewed: | 11-Jul-03 |
