Die Fledermaus

Johann Strauss II Die Fledermaus operetta to a libretto by Carl Haffner and Richard Genée. Directed 2003 by Stephan Lawless at Glyndebourne. Stars Pamela Armstrong, Thomas Allen, Lyubov Petrova, Malena Ernman, Håkan Hagegård, Pär Lindskog, Ragnar Ulfung, Artur Korn, Renée Schüttengruber, and Udo Samel (speaking part). Vladimir Jurowski directs the London Philharmonic Orchestra (Leader Peter Shoeman)  and the Glyndebourne Opera Chorus (Chorus Master Bernard McDonald). Set design by Benoit Dugardyn; costumes by Ingeborg Bernerth; lighting by Paul Pyant; choreography by Nicola Bowie; directed for TV by Francesca Kemp. This is the 2008 Blu-ray version of this title that first came out first  in HD DVD. Disc has 5.0 PCM audio. Grade: A+

The music is wonderful. The libretto is sophisticated, but harmless and funny. All the singers are good looking and sounding and have comic chops aplenty. The somewhat updated design is gorgeous, especially the famous revolving set. The fidelity of the video and sound is brilliant and totally satisfying. Put this at the top of your shopping list.

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