Rating: 
Summary: A Fabulously Fun Fledermaus -- Superb Playing
Review: This an excellent performance (in German) of Fledermaus conducted by Carlos Kleiber, a superb conductor who simply has not recorded that much. Kleiber nicely catches the fun in this Otto Schenk production, with a very nicely played score and excellent singers throughout. This is pretty much of a straight run through of the operetta, with no extended "gala" sequence in Act II (just a ballet very well done to the "Thunder and Lightning Polka"). The sets and costumes are excellent, the performance very well recorded, and subtitles (including both the original German and English) are available. The only downside of the DVD is the longish bit of spoken comedy (maybe 10 minutes but seems an hour) of the drunken jailer in Act III, a standard of Fledermaus productions. I preferred it to the English lnaguage/Joan Sutherland Gala also on DVD in terms of overall performance.
Rating:
Summary: You will love this "Fledermaus"
Review: This is a first rate Die Fledermaus!I watched this DVD last nite for the first time and what a pleasant surprise. Right from the opening chords of the overture you could tell that the conductor Carlos Kleiber obviously loved this work, and the orchestra responded in kind to his caressful approach(see some video of him in the latter part of the opera) to conducting this piece.
The opera takes place at the Bavarian State Opera Ballet and is performed before a live audience that was in a very receptive and appreciative mood.
The video director was Brian Large. Superb! Really, you can have the best singers, orchestra and sets but if the camera angles and switching isn't done properly then the final product can be very mediocre. No worry here. The singing is stellar: with Eberhard Wachter (Gabriel von Eisenstein), Pamela Coburn (Rosalinde) and Janet Perry (Adele) in the leading roles. The acting is good: light hearted, honest and the overall production is really very funny, without seemingly to have to try to be funny. The cast genuinely seemed to be having a great time on stage and responded enthusiastically to the audience's appreciative applause. And then.... there were the costumes(especially the ladies) and the sets: Absolutely gorgeous, sumptuous. Perfectly fitting for the setting that this work was written for. I would have no hesitation in recommending this wonderful, funny opera to anyone. You will love this "Fledermaus"
Rating:
Summary: Act 3 is Very Funny for Some People
Review: This is an outstanding production with Carlos Kleiber's direction providing an important part of the overall excellence. The other reviewers have dealt with this but I just need to add that the female leads, Rosalinde(Pamela Coburn) and Adele (Janet Perry) are superb both vocally and in their comic acting. The only problem I have is that the VHS tape is recorded at a very high level and some distortion results. Hopefully, this is remedied in the DVD version. I am prompted to write this review to present an alternative way of looking at Act 3 which is the morning after a New Year's Eve Party. Frosch (Franz Muxeneder), the jailer, is a drunk and the beginning of Act 3 features his drunken monologue which I find the funniest part of the opera. Opinions obviously vary on this Act 3, but it is a traditional part of Fledermaus, and I think most viewers will find this excellent comedy, consistent with what has gone before. I complained about the sound on the VHS tape, but the DVD sound quality is quite good.
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