Johann Strauss II: Die Fledermaus
(Salzburg, 2001)

Cast: Christoph Homberger (Eisenstein), Mireille Delunsch (Rosalinde), Malin Hartelius (Adele), Dale Duesing (Frank), Jerry Hadley (Alfred), David Moss (Orlofsky), Olaf Bär (Dr. Falke), Elisabeth Trissenaar (Frosch); Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, Marc Minkowski (conductor), Hans Neuenfels (director), Reinhard von der Tannen (designer)

Recorded at Salzburg in 2001

Issued on DVD by ArtHaus in 2003 [100 341, NTSC/Region 0, menus in English, French, Spanish, Japanese; subtitles in German, English, French, Spanish, Japanese]

Technical details:
Aspect ratio 16/9
Sound PCM Stereo; DD 5.1

Running time: 170 minutes

Sung in German
The included pamphlet quotes an attendee at the premiere objecting to "a nasty stage play with musical accompaniment". That would be a more accurate description of this recording than calling it either an opera or an operetta. Let me offer just one example. During Rosalinde's Csardas, Frosch in her green tuxedo brings Eisenstein a bucket of water to wash the blood from his hands.

That said, I found the 'nasty stage play' a fascinating, madcap romp; the musical performance to be admirable; and the singing variable, ranging from Hartelius's excellence to Hadley's distress. Neither Moss nor Trissenaar can be said to have sung, but even Homberger vocalized some sounds (during a generally fine performance) not found on any stave I know. Delunsch was a fine choice for this production, singing well and playing her reduced role to the hilt. The unit set and the gloriously inconsistent costuming proved consistent with the unpredictability of the action.

Musically - considering only the portions written by Strauss - Minkowski proved delightful again. That mystical 'Viennese' element is missing, but the brilliant, piquant sound he evoked was ideal to accompany the 'stage play'.

Fittingly, Orlofsky's guests consumed more cocaine than champagne; this recording is more of a 'trip' than a bubbly intoxication.
 
Related website:
Arthaus Musik www.arthaus-musik.de
 
Michael Richter, 25 September 2002
mrichter@cpl.net
 
See also Michael Richter's Introduction to the DVD, for a list of other reviews see the DVD Project page.