Die Fledermaus

The production is top heavy, with far too large a chorus which tends to obscure the amusing but delicate plot. The extravagance onstage is hardly necessary when such operatic stars and splendid orchestra justify the performance of this delightful score. Yes, the whole thing is a lot of fun (though what, to us now, outdated music hall stars, are doing in this lavish, over-the-top production) is a mystery. The first act setting of the story is obscure, the second act seems to be anxious to try and catch up with it, and the third act - although embellished - is the only one that is probably as Strauss would have liked it. Orchestra excellent (even if Placido Domingo as conductor can hardly resist joining in once vocally!) while all principals are first class. Handling that heaving mass of beautifully costumed chorus must have been a nightmare for the director in this over-the-top production which I found rather like having eaten too much ice cream and rich chocolate cake. Hats off to the BBC for this 30-year-old recording - considering the advances of technology since then the overall atmosphere of Covent Garden in full swing couldn't really be improved.

Only the visual reproduction quality of the DVD, admittedly recorded for TV nearly thirty years ago, prevented me from giving this a 5* rating! This performance with Placido Domingo conducting and Kiri Te Kanawa at the height of her abilities, has some surprising - and clever - deviations from the original production; all of which simply add to the joy of the show as a whole. All the leads are excellent, with great voices, all develop their characters really well. The sound quality is very good and the production, despite being nearly three hours long, is over far too quickly: that's how good it is.

Recorded around the New Year at Covent Garden it is conducted by Placido Domingo. What makes this version fun is that it was produced for the festive season and it has some added entertainment which does not distract from the main opera.

The 'asides' are very amusing and I enjoyed it as much as the audience. I only wish I'd been there. This works well as the opera is light and comic 'Die Fledermaus', the Bat, is after all only having a joke on his friend.

What a pitty - Fledermaus, such an amazing piece of theatre - and this....

Sorry, but I was very dissapointed.

The cast is good, but the production is not... sorry....

I can even forgive the old stage set but certainly not awful costumes which are not in level of ROH, embarassing ballet and surely not all the strange changes in original book.

The musical leading by Placido Domingo is perhaps attractive, but all the style, esprit and pleasure are missing.

See the Otto Schenk's production from Wiener Staatsoper with Lucia Popp, Edita Gruberova, Bernd Weikl, Walter Berry and Brigitte Fassbaender, that's how Fledermaus should be.

I was so glad I rented this DVD. It is very entertaining and alot of fun. There is a lot of interaction with the audience which made a change from the usual operas.