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Another superb Kalman operetta recording

david gilbert | New York | 06/12/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There has been a flush of first complete recordings of the delightful operettas of the Hungarian-born operetta composer
Imre Kalman in the last few years, several of them from the
Ohio Light Opera troupe out in America's heartland, and as they do not appear on the high profile CD labels--but rather on Albany, a champion of this sort of literature with all-American artists--these products seem to go un-hyped in the press.
A shame, as this is a most lovely work, presented here, appropriately, in English (instead of the composer's German
language version).
There is some elaborate explanation given in James Stuart's fine notes about the alternative title for this work--"Sari"--because
of a turn-of-the-century touring version of the work done in America using that title. But, the work presented here, although
in translation, appears to represent Kalman's original score,
hence the "Zigeunerprimas" which, by the way, translates to "the gypsy virtuoso" or the "gypsy orchestra leader."
None of this makes a bit of difference to the flat out joy of the
presentation here by this polished and enthusiastic band of musicians, led by the crack conductor Lynn Thompson. A pleasure throughout and a service done for the operettaphile!"