FRANZ LEHÁR (1870-1948): Der Göttergatte.

Description: This historical recording from increasingly bomb-destroyed Vienna is presented as part of cpo's ongoing Lehár series. The notes cover the genre of the mythological-character operetta and its eclipse post-World War I by operettas using real, everyday people; the checkered history of this 1904 original which Lehár revised unsuccessfully twice and this 1945 radio performance which was mostly inspired by a recent film on the Amphitryon theme. Quite a bit of extra historical material is included: An der Saar und am Rhein (herbert Ernst Groh [tenor], Metropol-Vokalisten, Orchestra of the Metropole Theatre Berlin; Werner Schmidt-Boelcke. 1939), Du und ich sind füreinander bestimmt (Richard Tauber [tenor], Odeon Künstler-Orchester. 1933), Wien, du bist das Herz der Welt (Ester Réthy [soprano], Vienna Symphony Orchestra; Franz Lehár. 1942), Orientalischer Marsch (Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra; Lehár. 1941), Pikanterien-Walzer and Stadtparkschönheiten (Otto Dobrindt und sein großes Künstlerorchester. 1943), Ungarische Tansfantasie for Violin and Orchestra (Willi Uhlenhut [violin], Vienna Radio Entertainment Orchestra; Max Schönherr. 1944) and Serenade for Violin and Orchestra (Ferdinand Meysel [violin], Berlin Radio Orchestra; Otto Dobrindt. 1949). 2 CDs. No libretto. Henny Herze (soprano), Anton Dermota, Franz Borsos (tenors), Fred Liewehr (bass), Vienna Radio Orchestra and Chorus; Max Schönherr. Rec. March 15, 1945.