Happy New Year [Blu-ray]

An enjoyable and interesting continuation of this new 'tradition' from Dresden
The new 'tradition' of New Year's Eve concerts celebrated in Dresden and conducted by Thielemann started in 2010. The first two focussed on the music of Lehar but for this 2012/2013 concert the focus has moved to the Hungarian, Kalman. Kalman was initially resident in Vienna and successfully blended the Viennese style of light music with his own Hungarian input which included links to the popular gypsy flavours of the time. His most popular music comes from this earlier period in his life. This disc offers a well-balanced and fairly comprehensive survey of his music. Only the final item departs from Kalman and is the An der Elbe waltz by Strauss which concludes the concert.

The concert essentially highlights arias sung by the two soloists with additional items played by the orchestra, sung by the choir and danced by the ballet company. Ingeborg Schopf makes a very fine job of replacing the indisposed Diana Damrau at the very last minute. She is the leading soprano of the...

A most for anyone interested in operetta
This is an excellent performance at every level. The focus on the music of Emmerich Kalman may seem limiting, but he was a prolific composer of the late operetta period. His music is melodic, versatile and remains exciting(many Hungarian folk themes for example). The Dresden Staatskapelle under the direction of Christian Thielemann does a sensitive interpretation of the material. The two soloists, Ingeborg Schopf and Pioir Beczala have a feel for the music and are in great voice. The blue ray images are excellent. The surround sound has great clarity and separation. The program is in German but the subtitles are fine. The performances come from the following shows: Grafin Mariza (one of the great operettas and one that deserves cross over into the current opera world), Die Csardasfurstin, Die Zirkusprinzessin, Kaiserin Josephine, Die Herzogin von Chicago, Das Veilchen von Montmartre and Der Zifeunerprimas. Selections from Grafin Mariza predominate. My only complaint (minor)...

Another Bit Of Musical Sachertorte!
I got my copy of this from the UK in January, when it became apparent that the US release would be delayed, as is often the case. It is the third in the relatively new Dresden Semperoper New Year's celebration concerts, intended, one might speculate, to create a bit of rivalry with the long standing Vienna New Year's Concert. It's a winner!

The first two of the Dresden series presented the music of Franz Lehar, with some Strauss waltzes thrown in for good measure. This disc features the music of Emmerich Kalman (1882 - 1953), who was regarded as one of the finest composers of operetta in the early 20th century. His best known works are Die Csardasfurstin (The Gypsy Princess) (1925) and Grafin Maritza (1924). His music emphasizes the "Gypsy idiom" , which he believed to be truly Hungarian, as well as the Viennese waltz. It is very melodic and intensely rythmic, as well as extremely romantic especially in the duets (as one might expect).

Some might consider this...

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