LONG LIVE FOREVER: THE ROMANCE OF MUSICAL COMEDY - SUTHERLAND, BONYNGE (2 CDS)

Light opera and musical theatre rub shoulders in this delightful compendium of favourites from the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries. With a few exceptions, such as Lehár’s ‘Merry Widow’, many of the operettas from which these songs and arias are taken are largely forgotten and seldom performed but their ‘hits’ remain evergreen. This reissue includes the original sleeve notes by Ronald Hill that accompanied the LP release.

‘What is immediately obvious is Sutherland’s own delight in singing this music, and the accompaniments have matching infectious qualities, with Bonynge obviously entirely at home, providing the necessary light touch and idiomatic feeling for rubato. The sumptuous recording catches the glory of Sutherland’s voice to perfection against a sparkingly rich orchestral and vocal backing.’ ***Penguin Guide to Compact Discs

CD 1
SIGMUND ROMBERG: The Student Prince: Students’ chorus … Deep in my heart, dear
RICHARD RODGERS: The Boys from Syracuse: Falling in love with love
SIGMUND ROMBERG: The Desert Song: Desert song
JEROME KERN: Music in the Air: And love was born
RUDOLF FRIML: Rose Marie: Indian love call
VICTOR HERBERT: The Only Girl: When you’re away
JEROME KERN: Show Boat: Make believe
HAROLD FRASER-SIMPSON: The Maid of the Mountains: Love will find a way
EDWARD GERMAN: Tom Jones: Waltz Song
JACQUES OFFENBACH: Le Périchole: Ô mon cher amant – Mon Dieu! – Ah! quel dîner
JULES MASSENET: Chérubin: Air de Nina
CARKL ZELLER: Der Vogelhändler: Schenkt man sich Rosen im Tirol
CARL MILLÖCKER: The Dubarry: The Dubarry

CD 2
LEO FALL: Medley
FRANZ LEHÁR: Eva: Wär es auch nichts als ein Traum von Glück
OSCAR STRAUS: Ein Walzertraum: Leise, ganz leise
RICHARD HEUBERGER: Der Opernball: Im Chambre séparée
JOHANN STRAUSS, JR: Casanova: Nun’s chorus
FRANZ LEHÁR: Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow):Vilja-lied
FRITZ KREISLER: The King Steps Out: Stars in my eyes
OSCAR STRAUS: The Chocolate Soldier: My hero
GEORGE POSFORD: Balalaika: Cossacks’ song … At the Balalaika
FRANZ LEHÁR: Paganini: Love live forever

Joan Sutherland, soprano
Ambrosian Light Opera Chorus
New Philharmonia Orchestra
Richard Bonynge