This is an excellent recording from the Accord
series and represents Offenbach in his lighter vein with a myriad
of good vocal numbers and nice elements of humour. The libretto
made an attempt at parodying the romance of Catherine the Great,
Napoleon III, as well as the early German courts.
The Grand Duchess of Gérolstein
is one of France’s favourite operettas. First produced in 1865
it took Paris by storm in the same way eleven years later Pinafore
took London by storm. Offenbach is inventive with some good musical
ideas but these are related as much to orchestral decoration as
melodic vocal line. Its music flows. Tunes like the 'Dites-lui'
number used to be whistled with abundance in the streets. The
critics loved it and some thought the operetta better than the
by then well-established La Belle Hélène.
The soloists are well suited to their roles with
both the Grand Duchess and Wanda (Suzanne Lafaye and Michèle
Raynaud) adopting suitable dominance with their strong and wide-ranging
voices. As Fritz Jean Aubert is somewhat light for his duets with
the Grand Duchess and Wanda. The narrative is convincingly spoken
(and only the brief appearance of a rather artificial horse effect
disappoints).
The recording was made in the 1960s in a dryish
acoustic and allows all sections of the modest-sized orchestra
to be clearly heard. One ceases to be aware of any dryness after
the first couple of tracks, incidentally. The vivacious pace set
by Hartemann enhances the good rhythms and is perfect for this
genre.
Brief notes in French are provided in the attractive
card case, that matches the rest of the series.
Raymond Walker
Operette
series from Universal Accord reviewed
by Ray Walker
Choir and Orchestra
directed by Jean-Claude Hartemann