Search - Alexander Eschig, Johann II [Junior] Strauss, Christian Pollack :: Johann Strauss II: Jabuka (The Apple Festival)

If You Like Die Fledermaus, You'll Probably Like This

J Scott Morrison | Middlebury VT, USA | 01/21/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is apparently the first-ever recording of this operetta, the fourteenth written by Johann Strauss II, which is weak on plot but long on tuneful bits and wonderful dance sequences. In fact, the 2CD set contains the 90-minute operetta and then concludes with a 45-minute arrangement of dances extracted from both dance and vocal music from the operetta. The latter had previously been released on a Marco Polo CD. The operetta is performed by young singers (many of them students or former students in the Vienna Conservatory class of Christian Pollack, who conducts) and an ad hoc orchestra calling itself the 'European Johann Strauss Orchestra.' The choral parts are taken by the Gaudeamus Choir Brno. The Dance Arrangements are played by the Slovak State Philharmonic under Pollack, plus two conducted by Johannes Wildner.



The plot, which needn't detain us too long, involves an annual celebration in a mythical Serbian village, the so-called 'Apple Festival' (Jabuka) in which a boy takes a bite out of an apple, gives it to a girl he's interested in. If she takes another bite and hands it back to him, they are betrothed. Two brothers, Vasil and Mirko, from an impoverished noble family wander into a town during the Apple Festival and through various comic machinations wind up betrothed to two girls, Annita and Jelka, from rich local families. The plot is complicated by the presence of a venal and greedy (and funny) villain, the bailiff Joschko. Along the way there are many romantic and comic songs and dances, all of which are vintage Strauss.



The included booklet contains a detailed synopsis but no libretto. This is probably just as well, given the ludicrous plot. The key here is just to sit back and let the endless Straussian melodies and rhythms wash over you.



Performances are spirited, musical and well-recorded. If this sort of thing appeals to you, you can't go wrong with this set, particularly at its budget price.



Scott Morrison"