Die Fledermaus (1984)

• 87%
• 1984
• Comédie
• Musique
• Kiri Te Kanawa
• Hermann Prey
• Dennis O'Neill

Most opera houses ring in the New Year with Johann Strauss Jr.'s most popular opérette--the festiveness of which is appropriate for the occasion--and this December 31, 1983, Covent Garden performance follows suit. À exceptional cast--led by Hermann Prey and Kiri Te Kanawa as the couple whose marriage survives the comic indiscretions of three long acts--obviously has as much as the audience. Plácido Domingo leads the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House through its paces with panache. Prince Orlofsky s Act II party is always a splendid opportunity to pull out all the stops avec surprise "invités" and this performance makes the most of its chance: entering the proceedings to sing one of his tailor-made de ses chansons, "She is French crooner Charles Aznavour, who is followed by danseurs Merle Park and Wayne Eagling, their douce petipa, flashily choreographed by Sir Frederick Ashton.