Best Of Operetta, Vol. 2

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Cat No: 8550942

Release Date: 12 January 1999

Label: Naxos - Nxc / Naxos Classics

Packaging Type: Jewel Case

No of Units: 1

Barcode: 730099594226

Genres: Classical

Composer/Series: BEST OF OPERETTA, VOL. 2

Description
The Best of Operetta Vol. 2 The second volume of The Best of Operetta opens with an acknowledgement of the great first master of Viennese operetta, the younger Johann Strauss. Following his father's example and against his father's express wishes, he had established his own dance-orchestra, later involving his two younger brothers in the family enterprise and providing music that entranced Europe. Strauss turned his attention to operetta relatively late in his career, inspired by the success of the Parisian Offenbach and the urging of his first wife. His first attempt at the form, Indigo and the Forty Thieves, was in 1871 and this was followed by a series of works in which attractive music was not always matched by a satisfactory libretto. Eine Nacht in Venedig (A Night in Venice) was first staged in 1883 in Berlin rather than in Vienna, since there were now very clear rumours of the liaison between Strauss's second wife, Lili, and the manager of the Theater an der Wien, Franz Steiner. In Berlin the work was a disaster but when it was given in Vienna the music, at least, was well received, and something of the performance was saved by the talents of the comic actor- singer Girardi, for whom Strauss had been obliged to provide suitable material. The Overture [1] avoids, of course, any of the dramatic weakness of the piece and can stand well enough on its own, together with the Lagunen Walzer (Lagoon Waltz) and Gondellied (Gondola Song). Franz Lehár, son of a Hungarian bandmaster, whose profession he had at first followed, was the true successor of Strauss, reviving the genre of operetta that had begun to flag and continuing the form into the new century, until debasing commercial influences consigned Viennese operetta to a place in history. Lehár's first and greatest success came in 1905 with Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow), with a libretto by Victor Léon and Leo Stein based on a French comedy by Henri Meilhac. The action opens with a reception at the Pontevedrin legation in Paris. The rich widow Hanna Glawari seems an easy prey for French fortune-hunters, but the Pontevedrin envoy Baron Zeta is determined to keep her fortune for his own country, urging the legation secretary Danilo to marry her. After various intrigues and misunderstandings all ends happily, when Hanna and Danilo declare their love for each other. In O Vaterland [3] (O Fatherland) Danilo declares that he has done enough for his country, without having to marry a rich widow. The famous Vilja-Lied is sung by Hanna Glawari at a reception in her garden, a folk-song for the entertainment of her guests. Lehár's Paganini, with a libretto by Paul Knepler and Béla Jenbach, was first staged at the Vienna Johann Strauss-Theater in 1925 and written with Richard Tauber in mind. The great violinist Paganini is to give a concert in Lucca, but this is banned by the ruling Prince, who is induced to relent by his wife, Napoleon's sister Princess Maria Anna El
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