Search - Victor Herbert, James Stuart, Ohio Light Opera :: Herbert: Eileen [Complete Opera]

Victor Herbert at last!

F. Behrens | Keene, NH USA | 02/17/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Though not quite a perfect production, this stands at present as the only complete score to any Victor Herbert operetta, and that includes the dialogue to boot. (Vox has "The Red Mill" and "Sweethearts" almost musically complete but will not reissue them.) There is no attempt to camp things up or condescend to the music, but the line readings are typical of "operetta readings": not for one moment believable. The vocalizing, however, is quite acceptable. Newport Classics was wise to put the dialogue on its own tracks so one can program it out after a first hearing; and a complete libretto is supplied. The lyrics are turn-of-the-century horrible, the music ranges from just nice to really memorable...which is more than we say about most recent musicals. Any theater department should have a copy, and local groups should consider doing this as their next production."

Lovely Victor Herbert

F. Behrens | 12/28/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I adore Victor Herbert and am sad there have not been more recordings available until now. The Ohio light Opera series
of complete operettas has been most welcome and exposes, of course, both the delicious music and the often-creaky books of what are, after all, century-or-more-old frothy entertainments,
hardly meant to compete with Mozart or Handel (whose lyrics are not always so sophisticated either, if one translates).
The meltingly beautiful voice of soprano Suzanne Woods in the title role is a real plus, and for a live performance--complete with stage noises, audience laughing, coughing and applauding--the distractions are few. Only a curmudgeon would protest. Buy it!"