Operetta Arias / Hampson, LPO, Welser-Möst

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Here is a great opera and lieder singer in a light vein. One might suspect that Thomas Hampson, famous for his high seriousness and dramatic projection, is slumming, but his glorious voice, superb vocalism, incredibly clear German diction, and infectious enjoyment give even the corniest arias a persuasive authenticity, despite occasional musical exaggerations and a certain intellectual overrefinement alien to the carefree, spontaneous Viennese idiom. Listeners familiar with these operettas may be surprised to find a baritone singing roles long associated with great tenors such as Richard Tauber and Jan Kiepura, both also operatic stars, but though the range does seem a bit high for Hampson at times, he makes them completely his own in sound, inflection, and spirit. He varies the inevitable reprise of the first verse with great imagination and vocal resourcefulness, including a magical mezza voce and a triumphantly ringing top, and captures the simplicity, piquant charm, humor, and parody of both the words and the melody. The orchestrations tend to underline the corniness of the music, but the playing is terrific. --Edith Eisler

Tracks:

Das Land des Lachelns: Dein ist mein ganzes Herz
Paganini: Gem hab' ich die Frau'n gekusst
Der Zarewitsch: Wolgalied
Wien wird bei Nacht erst schoen
Auf der Heide bluh'n die letzten Rosen
Eine Nacht In Venedig: Treu sein, das liegt mir micht
Der Zigeunerbaron: Als flotter Geist
Der singende Traum: Du bist die Welt fur mich!
Mein Herz reft nach dir: Ich sing' mein Lied
Trauminsel: Ich hab' mich tausendmal verliebt
Der Bettelstudent: Ich knuepfte manche zarte Bande
Der Bettelstudent: Ach, ich hab' sie ja nur auf die Schulter gekuesst
Der Obersteiger: Sei nicht boes!
Grafin Mariza: Komm Zigany
Die Csardasfurstin: Die maedis com Chantant!

Amazon.com

Here is a great opera and lieder singer in a light vein. One might suspect that Thomas Hampson, famous for his high seriousness and dramatic projection, is slumming, but his glorious voice, superb vocalism, incredibly clear German diction, and infectious enjoyment give even the corniest arias a persuasive authenticity, despite occasional musical exaggerations and a certain intellectual overrefinement alien to the carefree, spontaneous Viennese idiom. Listeners familiar with these operettas may be surprised to find a baritone singing roles long associated with great tenors such as Richard Tauber and Jan Kiepura, both also operatic stars, but though the range does seem a bit high for Hampson at times, he makes them completely his own in sound, inflection, and spirit. He varies the inevitable reprise of the first verse with great imagination and vocal resourcefulness, including a magical mezza voce and a triumphantly ringing top, and captures the simplicity, piquant charm, humor, and parody of both the words and the melody. The orchestrations tend to underline the corniness of the music, but the playing is terrific. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

A bit grim and forced.......2005-09-24

Over the past twenty years Hampson has set out to prove that he can sing anything a baritone voice could wrap itself around, from Bach to Broadway. He does amazingly well, but this CD is a miss. Hampson is a lot of things, but light and smiling isn't two of them. He blusters and sometimes shouts, a far cry from the melting insouciance of echt Viennese style.

A "Must" Have!.......2003-10-27

Just received this glorious CD and believe it's probably the most outstandingly beautiful one I own of Mr Hampson's (and I own many). Each track is an uplifting joy! This is Hampson at his melodious best.

Musicianship, but no sparkle.......2002-12-11

Mr. Hampson spends as much care and and craft on these songs as he would on lieder, but the results were disappointing to me. The zest and sparkle that I expect from Viennese operetta is just not there. So, my vote is for less restraint and musicianship and more "joyful abandon" in performance.

FROM VIENNA WITH LOVE.......2000-10-25

Thomas Hampson takes us on a nostalgic trip to old Vienna as we listen to signifant works of the masters of Viennese operetta. The voice is rich, warm, and unabashedly romantic as he caresses each lyric and musical phrase with obvious affection. His "Auf der Heide bluh'n in die letzten Rosen" by Robert Stoltz and "Du bist die Welt fur mich" by Richard Tauber are tender and heart wrenching. He also embraces works by Lehar, Strauss II, Millocker, Zeller and Kalman with gusto and feeling. Of the dozens of operetta recordings I have heard in the last two or three years, none bring me more satisfaction than this generous collection by Mr. Hampson with its lyrical vocalism and lush orchestration. Just when you think it can't get any better, it does. A true delight for operetta devotees.

Fine singing of German by a non-German.......2000-10-24

I had to take off a star only because German language operetta lyrics are almost always better sung by a singer who speaks German as their natural language. Hampson's performances of an excellent selection of highly enjoyable arias are superb, with the sole, very minor negative of the non-germanic diction. Baritone or tenor, this CD is a fine investment which you will play many times.

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