Oscar Straus: Die lustigen Nibelungen

Die Lustigen Nibelungen, operetta
Composed by Oscar Straus
Performed by Kolner Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester
with Michael Nowak, Gundrun Volkert, Lisa Griffith, Josef Otten, Hein Heidbuchel, Gerd Grochovski, Gabriele Henkel, Christine Mann, Daphne Evangelatos, Martin Gantner
Conducted by Siegfried Koehler

Oscar Straus: Die lustigen Nibelungen,Oscar Straus,Dr. Siegfried Kohler,Siegfried Koehler,Kölner Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester,Kölner Rundfunkorchester,Christine Mann,Daphne Evangelatos,Gabriele Henkel,Gerd Grochovski,Gundrun Volkert,Hein Heidbuchel,Josef Otten,Lisa Griffith,Martin Gantner,Michael Nowak,Capriccio,German/Austrian Operetta,Opera

Average customer rating:

Amusing operetta parody of Wagner

Straus: Die Lustigen Nibelungen

Manufacturer: Capriccio
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00005YCL8
Release Date: 1996-10-30

Tracks:

Overture
Er Sieht So Miesepetrig Aus...
Wuchs in Isenlande
Mu Nicht So Romantisch Sein...
Einst Trte Kriemhilden
Ich Bracht's Auf Dem Gymnasium
Einst Hatte Ich Geld und Gut
Hei, Gnges Frein, Habe Die Ehre
Ich Bracht's Auf Dem Gymnasium
Heil, K Gunther! ...
Recken Von Alt-Burgund...
Ach, War das 'Ne SchHochzeit
Jetzt, Wo Die Nacht Zur Suhe Ladet...
Brunhilde, Mach Auf
Ach! Hagen, Thu Mir Den Einz'gen Gefallen
Nun So La Uns Denn Siegfries Ermordenrideamus
Ich Hab' Ein Bad Genommen
Sie Sieht So Miesepetrig Aus
Er Hat Verletrz Brunhilde

Customer Reviews:

Amusing operetta parody of Wagner.......2003-09-27

Oscar Straus, who is remembered mainly for his operettas "The Chocolate Soldier" and "A Waltz Dream," wrote this little gem in 1906 to poke fun at the Wagner craze and its pernicious effect on German culture. After only a few performances, it was shut down by the violent demonstrations of nationalists who were outraged by its irreverent satire on the God of German music. It was completely forgotten until this enterprising revival in the mid 1990s.

Die Lustigen Nibelungen (The Merry Nibelungs) turns the plot of Gotterdaemmerung on its head by making Siegfried, Brunhilde, Hagen and the Gibichings into absurd figures of fun who indulge in silly mock-heroics, suffer pratfalls and plot murder which turns into foolish fiasco. Like much German humor, it can be a bit heavy-handed, but as Wagner lends himself easily to parody by the sheer seriousness with which he takes himself, the results are often amusing, and would have been even more so had the CD included an English translation of the libretto which, alas, it does not. As one example of Straus' wit, he has his Siegfried sing of his treasure as, "Das ist Rheingold, das ist mein Gold, das ist Nibelungen Gold." You need the music to fully appreciate just how amusing this is, though.

And the music? Well, it's tuneful Viennese-style operetta, not Wagner, for the most part -- which of course adds to the silliness of the concept. But there are a few tracks which do ape the Wagnerian style, although that of Lohengrin or Tannhauser, not of the Ring. The team assembled for this production are mainly young German and American singers, but they are up to the task and add much to one's enjoyment of this unique experience.

As an added bonus, the booklet features several photographs from the 1906 premiere -- and they are absolutely hilarious!

Die Lustigen Nibelungen
Average customer rating:

Daphne Evangelatos at her best

Die Lustigen Nibelungen

Manufacturer: Capriccio
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000001WU7
Release Date: 1996-10-30

Tracks:

Ov - Kolner Rundfunkorchester/Siegfried Kohler
Act One, No.1: Ens: 'Er Sieht So Miesepetrig Aus...' - Martin Gantner/Daphne Evangelatos/Gerd Grochowski/Hein Heidbuchel/Gabriele Henkel/Lisa Griffith...
Act One, No.1a: Ballade: 'Da Wuchs In Isenlande...' - Martin Gantner
Act One, No.1b: 'Du Mubt Nicht So Romantisch Sein...' - Daphne Evangelatos/Gerd Grochowski/Hein Heidbuchel/Gabriele Henkel...
Act One, No.2: Romance & Ens: 'Einst Traumte Kriemhilden...' - Lisa Griffith/Martin Gantner/Daphne Evangelatos/Gerd Grochowski/Heid Heidbuchel...
Act One, No.3: Entry Song: 'Ich Bracht' Auf Dem Gymnasium...' - Michael Nowak/Martin Gantner/Daphne Evangelatos/Gerd Grochowski/Hein Heidbuchel...
Act One, No.4: Song & Ens: 'Einst Hatte Ich Geld Und Gut...' - Michael Nowak/Martin Gantner/Daphne Evangelatos/Gerd Grochowski/Hein Heidbuchel...
Act One, No.5: Duet & Ens: 'Hei, Gnadiges Fraulein, Habe Die Ehre!' - Michael Nowak/Lisa Griffith/Martin Gantner/Daphne Evangelatos/Gerd Grochowski...
Act One, No.6: Finale: 'Kreuz-Millionen-Donnerwetter!' - Gudrun Volkert/Martin Gantner/Daphne Evangelatos/Gerd Grochowski/Hein Heidbuchel...
Act One, No.6b: 'Heil, Konig Gunther!... - Daphne Evangelatos/Gerd Grochowski/Hein Heidbuchel/Gabriele Henkel/Lisa Griffith...
Act One, No.6c: Hymn: 'Recken Von Alt-Burgund...' - Hein Heidbuchel/Daphne Evangelatos/Gerd Grochowski/Lisa Griffith/Josef Otten...
Act Two, No.7: 'Ens & Chor: 'Ach, War Das 'Ne Schone Hochzeit!' - Martin Gantner/Daphne Evangelatos/Gerd Grochowski/Hein Heidbuchel/Gabriele Henkel/Lisa Griffith...
Act Two, No.8: Duet: 'Jetzt, Wo Die Nacht Zur Suben Ruhe Ladet...' - Lisa Griffith/Michael Nowak
Act Two, No.9: Trio & Ens: 'Brunhilde, Mach Auf!' - Martin Gantner/Gudrun Volkert/Michael Nowak/Daphne Evangelatos/Gerd Grochowski...
Act Two, No.10: Finale: 'Ach! Hagen, Thu Mir Den Einz'gen Gefallen...' - Martin Gantner/Daphne Evangelatos/Gerd Grochowski/Hein Heidbuchel/Gabriele Henkel/Lisa Griffith...
Act Three, No.12: Round Dance: 'Nun So Labt Uns Denn Siegfried Ermorden...' - Martin Gantner/Daphne Evangelatos/Gerd Grochowski/Hein Heidbuchel/Gabriele Henkel/Lisa Griffith...
Act Three, No.13a: Intro Und Couplet: 'Ich Hab' Ein Bad Genommen...' - Michael Nowak
Act Three, No.14: Duet: 'Sie Sieht So Miesepetrig Aus...' - Michael Nowak/Gudrun Volkert/Christine Mann
Act Three, No.15: Closing Song: 'Er Hat Verletzt Brunhilde...' - Martin Gantner/Daphne Evangelatos/Gerd Grochowski/Hein Heidbuchel/Gabriele Henkel/Lisa Griffith...

Customer Reviews:

Daphne Evangelatos at her best.......2006-03-23

Daphne Evangelatos is the one and only Mezzo-Soprano you should lissen to.
Her sensitive voice has the most beautiful colours, her German declamation is brilliant and the emotions flow right through your speakers.
You should really by this rare record. The music is great too