Deutsche Grammophon just put on sale (June 15th, 1999) a CD from last year's gala - A Tribute to Operetta: A Franz Lehar Gala (Carreras, Domingo, Hampson, Lind and Rost) . As I am an operetta lover, I got the CD on Saturday and listened to it throughout the weekend. The CD is 77 minutes long, so I guess it is not the whole gala, and my feeling is that the songs are not in the order they appeared on stage:

• Kalman 'Tanzen möcht'ich', Die Csardasfurstin, Hampson/Lind
• Lehar 'Lippen schweigen', Die lustige Witwe, Carreras/Domingo/Rost/Lind
• 'Es steht ein Soldat am Wolgastrand', Der Zarewitsch, Carreras
• 'Freunde, das Leben is lebenswert', Giuditta, Domingo
• 'Hör'ich'Zymbalklange', Zigeunerliebe, Lind
• 'Da geh' ich zu Maxime', Die lustige Witwe, Hampson
• 'Vilja, o Vilja', Die lustige Witwe, Rost
• Zeller 'Schenkt man sich Rosen in Tirol', Der Vogelhändler, Lind
• Kalman 'Komm, Zigany', Gräfin Mariza, Hampson
• Lehar 'Meine Lippen, sie Küssen so heiss', Giuditta, Rost
• 'Gern hab'ich die Frau'n geküsst', Paganini, Domingo
• 'Wie die Blumen in Lenze erblün', Die lustige Witwe, Carreras
• 'Wer hat die Liebe Uns ins Herz gesenkt', Das Land des Gesenkt Lächelns, Hampson/Rost
• Medley (all five)
• Finale: Dein ist mein ganzes Herz (all five)

I was thinking about how to review this CD, and I am afraid my review will be affected by the fact that I am a Central European with a bit of Viennese blood, and; like I said before, an operetta lover, who attended the first operetta when I was 5 years old.

As you can see from the program, it was not only Lehar. Lehar is considered closer to opera composers than operetta because his music is difficult and needs more experienced singers. However, operetta is different from opera, the atmosphere is lighter, the drama is less - always with a happy ending, no one dies, and the demands on operetta singers are different from those put on opera singers (dancing is one requirement that you do not find in opera).

Though Carreras and Domingo sang well, you can still feel it is not their territory, and German is not their favorite language. But I must admit that Carreras gave me a pleasant surprise in 'Wie die Blumen in Lenze erblün'. You all know this one. It was part of the medley in the 3T LA concert. It is a waltz, and I could not help the feeling that Carreras got the grip of it. The applause following it confirmed my thought.

I wish I could see Domingo's face while he sang 'Gern hab'ich die Frau'n geküsst' ('You women I kissed with joy'). From his voice, it was obvious that he enjoyed this one.

'Lippen schweigen' as a four voice did not impress me. I heard it before with Carreras/Caballe in a better performance.

Thomas Hampson did a great job and was a real operetta tenor - his Daniel naming all the Maxim's ladies was super. Rost did not deny being a Hungarian and had the right spirit. Lind was acceptable too, and her gypsy had the right colour.

In general a nice recording. It is not a must, but if you like operetta and at least one of the performers, you will enjoy it.

The finale of the medley - 'Studium der Weiber ist schwer' from Die lustige Witwe and is sung by all five - is worth the whole CD.

Unfortunately, Deutsch Grammophon has no plans to release this event on a video. Which is a pity, as there are a couple of moments, I would love to see.

The booklet does not have any photos. The cover is a group photo, and the inside cover of the CD has two photos: Lind/Domingo and Carreras/Rost. One last thing, I checked both Barnes and Noble and Amazon music shops and they both have the CD.