Johann Strauss Jr.: Die Fledermaus

Johann Strauss Jr.: Die Fledermaus

Johann Strauss Jr.: Die Fledermaus
List Price: $16.98
Category: Music CD
See more CD details
Listen soundtracks from this album


Buy Johann Strauss Jr.: Die Fledermaus at Amazon.com
(Click here)
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store

CD Details

Composer: Johann II [Junior] Strauss
Conductor: Richard Bonynge
Orchestra: San Francisco Opera Orchestra
Performer: Joan Sutherland
Performer: Judith Blegen
Performer: Spiro Malas
Performer: Huguette Tourangeau
Performer: Ragnar Ulfung
Performer: Daniel Sullivan
Performer: Nolan Van Way
Performer: Bruce Yarnell
Edition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 1997-01-21
Music Label: Bella Voce Records
Soundtracks:
Music CD 1
  1. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Overture
  2. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act 1. No. 1. Introduction. Turtle dove that flew away
  3. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act 1. Dialogue. Turtle dove that flew away
  4. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act 1. No. 1a. Duet. Oh Milady
  5. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act 1. Dialogue. Oh my darling Rosalinde
  6. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act 1. No. 2. Trio. I can tell you...
  7. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act 1. Dialogue. Poor darling...
  8. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act 1. No. 3. Duet. Come along to the ball
  9. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act 1. Dialogue. Well, what's going on here?
  10. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act 1. No. 4. Trio. Oh, my poor poor darling
  11. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act 1. Dialogue. It's so hot in here
  12. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act 1. No. 5. Finale. Drink, my darling, drink for me
  13. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act 2. No. 6. Introduction. It's a party...
  14. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act 2. Dialogue. Ida! Adele?... Here I am
  15. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act 2. No. 7. Couplets. ...I entertain... My guests drink vodka and champagne
  16. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act 2. Dialogue. Do you like vodka?
  17. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act 2. No. 8. Ensemble and Couplets. I want your kind attention
  18. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act 2. No. 8. Ensemble and Couplets. My dear Marquis, it seems to me
  19. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act 2. Dialogue. My humblest apologies, Mademoiselle Olga
Music CD 2
  1. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act 2. Dialogue. Ah, what an original watch!
  2. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act 2. No. 9. Duet. How engaging, how exciting
  3. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act 2. Dialogue. That must be the mysterious count
  4. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act 2. No. 10. Czárdás. Songs of my homeland
  5. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act 2. Dialogue. Thank you, thank you
  6. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act 2. No. 11. Finale. Champagne!
  7. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act 2. No. 11. Finale. Dear Chevalier, mon bon ami
  8. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act 2. No. 11. Finale. Enough, my friend, enough!
  9. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act 3. No. 12. Entr'acte
  10. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act 3. No. 13. Melodrama. His Majesty will celebrate
  11. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act 3. Dialogue. The warden has come back
  12. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act 3. No. 14. Couplets. Ever since I was a baby
  13. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act 3. Dialogue. As a chamber maid you certainly are liberated
  14. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act 3. No. 15. Trio. To judge this expression
  15. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act 3. Dialogue. You dare approach me?
  16. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), operetta (RV 503): Act 3. No. 16. Finale. O Eisenstein, you must not

Music reviews of Johann Strauss Jr.: Die Fledermaus

Music Review: A sparkling performance, full of fun and great singing
Rating: 5 Stars

What a joy to find this recording! It was originally broadcast live from the San Francisco Opera in 1973. The cast is Joan Sutherland (Rosalinde), Nolan Van Way (Eisenstein), Judith Blegen (Adele), Ragnar Ulfung (Alfred), Huguette Tourangeau (Orlofsky), Bruce Yarnell (Falke), Daniel Sullivan (Dr. Blind), Spiro Malas (Frank), and Walter Slezak (Frosch). Richard Bonynge conducts.

Musically, this performance just can't be beat. Sutherland sings with beauty, intelligence, and a sure flair for comedy. Judith Blegen sings Adele's two arias with an ease that eludes most Adeles. Her coloratura in the Laughing Song sounds more like laughter than usual, without any loss of tonal beauty. Bonynge supports the singers with tempi that bring out their best. Listen to the end of the first act, when the tempo slows and Sutherland floats a few high notes over the ensemble. This sounds more like the end of the sextet in Lucia than any other Fledermaus I have ever heard. And it works!

But what really distinguishes this performance is that everybody is having fun and relishing every moment. At one point, Judith Blegen, who also studied violin, pulls out a violin and accompanies herself on it. Even Dame Joan pokes fun at herself: Spying her maid at Orlofsky's ball, she fumes, "It's Adele... and in MY gown... CUT DOWN!" Watergate was still a current event at the time of this broadcast, and the script is peppered with references to it: "The best of people are going to jail nowadays -- doctors, lawyers, even politicians" and "Are you telling the truth?... To the best of my recollection at this point in time." And could there ever be a better Frosch than Walter Slezak? Who else could handle low comedy while lending an air of Viennese charm?

The performance is in English, with occasional forays into other languages. Listen for the moment when Eisenstein and Frank, both masquerading as Frenchmen, are encouraged to speak to each other in their native language. Their exchange is in most recordings of Fledermaus, but it is so much better here where they have the advantage of playing to an audience. And Sutherland sings the Czardas (beautifully) in Hungarian. According to the program notes, she later recalled with amusement that a review of this performance said that her rendition of the Czardas was so unintelligible it may as well have been sung in Hungarian. (Incidentally, her diction is fine in this recording. You will understand all of her dialog and almost all of her singing -- I never understand all of anyone's singing in opera.)

In case it isn't obvious, I highly recommend this recording. If only there were a video....

General CDs

Music Genres
Bestsellers in General CDs
The Best of Andrea Bocelli: Vivere ImageAndrea Bocelli - The Best of Andrea Bocelli: Vivere
Andrea; Release date: 2007-10-30; Music CD
Best price: $8.95
Price in other shops: $18.98
The Power of Two ImageCheyenne Jackson, Michael Feinstein - The Power of Two
Release date: 2009-11-03; Music CD
Best price: $10.96
Price in other shops: $15.98
The Promise ImageIl Divo - The Promise
Sony; Release date: 2008-11-18; Music CD
Best price: $2.29
Price in other shops: $13.96
Cecilia Bartoli: Sacrificium ImageCecilia Bartoli - Cecilia Bartoli: Sacrificium
Release date: 2009-10-26; Music CD
Best price: $15.81
Price in other shops: $24.98
At Home With Friends ImageJoshua Bell - At Home With Friends
Bell; Release date: 2009-09-29; Music CD
Best price: $10.28
Price in other shops: $13.96
My Christmas: Deluxe Edition CD & DVD ImageAndrea Bocelli - My Christmas: Deluxe Edition CD & DVD
Andrea; Release date: 2009-11-23; Music CD
Best price: $16.89
Price in other shops: $24.98
The Christmas Collection ImageIl Divo - The Christmas Collection
Sony; Release date: 2005-10-25; Music CD
Best price: $5.75
Price in other shops: $9.99
Harmony ImageThe Priests - Harmony
Release date: 2009-11-23; Music CD
Best price: $9.80
Price in other shops: $13.98
An Evening With Il Divo-Live In Barcelona (CD/DVD) ImageIl Divo - An Evening With Il Divo-Live In Barcelona (CD/ DVD)
Release date: 2009-12-01; Music CD
Best price: $12.99
Price in other shops: $18.98
My Christmas ImageAndrea Bocelli - My Christmas
Andrea; Release date: 2009-11-03; Music CD
Best price: $11.70
Price in other shops: $18.98
Similar CDs
Cecilia Bartoli - Maria ImageCecilia Bartoli - Maria
Release date: 2006-10-10; Music CD
Best price: $9.44
Price in other shops: $13.79
Johann Strauss II: Jabuka (The Apple Festival) ImageJohann Strauss II: Jabuka (The Apple Festival)
Release date: 2007-11-20; Music CD
Best price: $8.43
Price in other shops: $18.98
Tchaikovsky - Eugene Onegin / Fleming, Vargas, Hvorostovsky, Gergiev, Carsen [Metropolitan Opera 2007] ImageTchaikovsky - Eugene Onegin / Fleming, Vargas, Hvorostovsky, Gergiev, Carsen [Metropolitan Opera 2007]
Uni; Release date: 2007-12-18; DVD
Best price: $19.26
Price in other shops: $39.98
Michael William Balfe: The Bohemian Girl ImageMichael William Balfe: The Bohemian Girl
Release date: 1992-06-16; Music CD
Best price: $69.99
Donizetti - Maria Stuarda / Sutherland, Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Bonynge ImageDonizetti - Maria Stuarda / Sutherland, Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Bonynge
Release date: 1990-05-16; Music CD
Best price: $11.99
Price in other shops: $22.98
Verdi - La Traviata ImageVerdi - La Traviata
Uni; Release date: 2007-10-30; DVD
Best price: $17.36
Price in other shops: $29.98
Johann Strauss II - Die Fledermaus / Armstrong, Allen, Petrova, Ernman, Hagegard, Jurowski (Glyndebourne Festival Opera) ImageJohann Strauss II - Die Fledermaus / Armstrong, Allen, Petrova, Ernman, Hagegard, Jurowski (Glyndebourne Festival Opera)
Release date: 2004-03-16; DVD
Best price: $17.44
Price in other shops: $29.99
The Music Man (1957 Original Broadway Cast) [Angel Reissue] ImageThe Music Man (1957 Original Broadway Cast) [Angel Reissue]
Release date: 1992-11-17; Music CD
Best price: $7.15
Price in other shops: $11.98
Johann Strauss - Die Fledermaus / Domingo, Te Kanawa, Prey, Royal Opera Covent Garden ImageJohann Strauss - Die Fledermaus / Domingo, Te Kanawa, Prey, Royal Opera Covent Garden
Release date: 2003-10-14; DVD
Best price: $16.40
Price in other shops: $29.99
Die Fledermaus: Vocal Score (G. Schirmer Opera Score Editions) ImageDie Fledermaus: Vocal Score (G. Schirmer Opera Score Editions)
by Ruth and Thomas Martin
G. Schirmer, Inc.; Published: 1986-11-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $15.50
Price in other shops: $18.95
Compare prices and find music notes for more than one million Music CD titles