The Johann Strauss II Opera
I have been waiting 56 years for a release of Johann Strauss opera: Ritter Pazman on a LP or CD. Well that day finally came. I have always adored the music of the Strauss Family. Own the complete editions of Johann I, Johann II and Josef Strauss. Also own on CD 15 of 17 stage works of the Waltz King. The ORFEO D'OR release of the 1975 Live recording of a performance of Ritter Pazman is very good. The sound is clear and the Orchestra captures the spirit of the Strauss score. Always been a fan of the late singer, Eberhard Waechter. The other singers were excellent also. I know that this opera is called an Comic opera but I found the music quite serious in tone. I can hear the touch of Wagner in the musical score. In my opinion, I fount the third act the most inspired. It is very nice that the complete ballet was included as a bonus track. The live performance had only the Czardas recorded. It would have been great if the instrument- cimbalom had been used in the Czardas as Strauss had written it. Yet the ballet number was very lively. Johann Strauss was disappointed that his only opera was not a success. He did have the skill to compose dramatic music. I did enjoy listening to Ritter Pazman. It is worth every penny to own. The musical score is full of beautiful music and the orchestra's instrument are used to great effect. Strauss used Wagner as his model but he should have used Meyerbeer as the model. The theater public of his time demanded it to be full of wonderful waltz tunes and this Opera did not have it. Strauss wanted a serious work of ART. Ritter Pazman did fulfill his dream to have one of his works mounted at the Court Opera. With this CD being availible, you can judge for yourself. It maybe not a masterpiece but it deserves to be heard again at the Vienna State Opera. At least it was performed at the Musikverein, where he did conduct in his life time.
