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Rating: 
Summary: Simply Delicious!
Review: At first glance, I was a little intimidated by the plot synopsis of Simplicius, but it turned out to be a delightful love story filled with beautiful Strauss waltz music.Before a word is spoken, you will hear the lovely melodic theme of the operetta, which translates loosely as, "Now I like to go back in time, to that blissful distant past." It is a hauntingly beautiful melody, which has too long been neglected by the music world. You will recognize it as it turns up again and again during the story--but you will not tire of it! It also appears at the finale, as a grand finish to a happy-ending love story, which Strauss himself preferred to his better-known Gypsy Baron. (Perhaps it's just the romantic in me, but I think I hear Strauss, looking back on his long, successful life as a composer of beautiful waltzes.) There are many other delightful songs adding spice throughout the story, but my favorite part of the operetta is the growing love between Tilly and "Simple." Martina Jankova as Tilly is irresitible, both in her singing and her acting skills. You'll love her fitful frustration at trying to get "Simple" to realize he loves her. I predict that we will see much more of Jankova in the future--she has all the skills to delight audiences. The costumes and scenery are as close to perfection as the singing and acting. It is hard to believe that such a wonderful musical work has lain untouched for more than a century. This troupe has done justice to Simplicius, as the operetta has proclaimed Strauss' brilliance. And we happy few who have seen it, reap the delicious harvest.
Rating:
Summary: Simpli wonderful
Review: I can't improve upon the first reviewer but I must wholeheartedly agree that this operetta/opera...whatever you wish to call it...is quite the visual experience in addition to Strauss' typically enchanting music. I too was absolutely amazed with the quality of the sets. How could they make money on this I kept wondering. I suppose some might find a few scenes offensive but I loved it from beginning to end. If you love Strauss' music then you must own it.
Rating:
Summary: Zurich Resurrects Lost Masterpiece
Review: The Opernhaus Zurich can well be proud of it's magnificent revival of Johann Strauss' lost operetta Simplicius. The performance on DVD here was the first revival of this work in 113 years since it's recent rediscovery. Strauss seems to have been aiming to make operetta more sreious and in line with mainstream opera. This one has the usual tangled love story set amid the Thirty years war with some unusally dark commentary about the horrors of war mixed in with the customary froth. His music is quite delightful as always, pieces such as Tilly's schnaps song or the love duets are very grateful on the ear.There is the usual quota of waltzes and marching songs. The wonderful ensemble cast never puts a foot wrong in David Poutney's magnificent production. The sets by Johann Engels are an inspired achievment. They seem to be a living, moving,almost breathing thing with a striking resemblance to one of the more fantastic paintings of Bosch or Breughel.The sets and costumes alone look like they would have bankrupted most opera companies. The DVD itself is beautifully produced with Leterbox picture and 5.1 sound well nigh perfect. there are english subtitles but unfortunately they have been placed within the viewing area instead of below the letterbox as it should have been. My sole complaint about a most desirable dvd for any opera lovers collection. Highest reccomendation!
Rating: 
Summary: Great music, weird staging
Review: This is a very enjoyable operetta. The Strauss music is great and it is very well sung and played. However, the plot is rather silly (even more so than most operas) and the staging, scenery, and costumes are weird. For example, the general rides around in a giant boot on wheels (I suppose this is justified by the fact the there is a song in the operetta about how important maintaining his boots is to a soldier). Although these departures from conventional staging are not completely inappropriate, if you prefer to see an opera as the composer had intended it to be seen, you may not like the staging.
Rating:
Summary: Not operetta, not opera, worth every penny
Review: When I purchased this DVD, I expected little. What I received was a great deal. The production is imaginatively staged. The singing - even the acting - is top shelf. Some expressionist touches bring life to the scenery. While this is a tale of romance, one is never far from the horrors of the mass murdering of the Thirty Years War. I will not spoil the surprises, but the juxtaposition of the final act's romantic denouement, family reunion, and imperial forgiveness with that tree with its special "fruit" could not be more effective in keeping this from becoming late Nineteenth Century Viennese schlag, all air and little substance. To be sure, Simplicius is a rogue but he is delightful rogue. Someone not interested in another Die Fledermaus (if such a soul lives) need have no fear. Nor will one find Wozzeck. How this wonderful work could have been ignored for so long is incomprehensible although the difficulty of categorization may play a part. It has quickly become a personal favorite.
Rating:
Summary: Not operetta, not opera, worth every penny
Review: When I purchased this DVD, I expected little. What I received was a great deal. The production is imaginatively staged. The singing - even the acting - is top shelf. Some expressionist touches bring life to the scenery. While this is a tale of romance, one is never far from the horrors of the mass murdering of the Thirty Years War. I will not spoil the surprises, but the juxtaposition of the final act's romantic denouement, family reunion, and imperial forgiveness with that tree with its special "fruit" could not be more effective in keeping this from becoming late Nineteenth Century Viennese schlag, all air and little substance. To be sure, Simplicius is a rogue but he is delightful rogue. Someone not interested in another Die Fledermaus (if such a soul lives) need have no fear. Nor will one find Wozzeck. How this wonderful work could have been ignored for so long is incomprehensible although the difficulty of categorization may play a part. It has quickly become a personal favorite.
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