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Concert (operetta)
15 October 2007
Philharmonie, Berlin
Angelika Kirchschlager
Simon Keenlyside
Neue Philharmonie Westfalen
Alfred Eschwé, conductor
Programme
Franz von Suppé:
Overture from Boccaccio.
Franz von Suppé:
“Hab’ ich nur deine Liebe” from Boccaccio. [AK & SK]
Franz von Suppé:
“Mia bella fiorentina” from Boccaccio. [AK & SK]
Johann Strauß:
Roses from the South (Waltz) op. 388
Emmerich Kálmán:
“Heut’ nacht hab’ ich geträumt von dir” from Das Veilchen vom Montmartre. [SK]
Johann Strauß:
“Draußen in Sievering” from Die Tänzerin Fanny Elssler. [AK]
Johann Strauß:
Thunder and Lighting Polka, op. 324
Franz Lehár:
Overture from Das Land des Lächelns
Franz Lehár:
“ Meine Lippen, die küssen so heiß” from Giuditta [AK]
Emmerich Kálmán:
“Wieder hinaus ins strahlende Licht” from Die Zirkusprinzessin [SK]
Franz Lehár:
Zwanzinette from Eva [orchestral]
Franz Lehár:
“Nur die Liebe macht uns jung” from Ziguenerliebe [AK & SK]
Franz Lehár:
Gold and Silver (Waltz) op. 79
Emmerich Kálmán:
“Weißt du es noch” from Die Csardasfürstin. [AK & SK]
Encores
Robert Stolz:
“Du sollst der Kaiser meiner Seele sein” from Der Favorit [AK]
Franz Lehár:
“Dein ist mein ganzes Herz” from Das Land des Lächelns [SK]
Emmerich Kálmán:
“Tanzen möcht' ich” from Die Csardasfürstin. [AK & SK]
What the critics say
Berliner Morgenpost, 18 October 2007 (tar)
Viennese peachiness paired with Berlin snappiness
With every operetta performance one question is lurking maliciously in the background: what’s the use at all ? Who needs operetta today, jaunty gals, Hungarian Countesses, singing impostors ? And after (almost) every performance the summary is: O yes, that’s exactly what we want.
This mechanism was operative at the Philharmonie too when Angelika Kirchschlager and Simon Keenlyside presented their operetta programme. The atmosphere dull at the beginning, only one third of the hall full, the lighting piercing, the dramaturgy unimaginative. And then Miss Kirchschlager fluffed in the first number. This needs a good captain and luckily we had one with Alfred Eschwé. He conducted the Neue Philharmonie Westfalen supremely well and precisely, mixed Viennese peachiness with Berlin snappiness and brought the Danube steamer back to course. The rest went off on its own volition. Angelika Kirchschlager worked herself more and more into her role as femme fatale, made her soprano [sic] twitter and rejoice and was not mean with sex appeal; her youthful and virile partner Simon Keenlyside convinced with a sonorous voice. His hit of the evening was “Weißt du es noch” from “Csárdásfürstin”, la Kirchschlager scored a hit above all with “Draußen in Sievering blüht schon der Flieder”.
When they both confessed “Dein ist mein ganzes Herz” to each other during the encores, we renounced Richard Wagner again and vowed only to hear operetta. But sadly you have to look for it on our stages with the looking-glass. And in any case next time the whole thing will start again with the question: Who needs this today?