FRANZ LEHÁR Love was a Dream

FRANZ LEHÁR
Love was a Dream
ALFIE BOE – Tenor
THE ORCHESTRA OF THE SCOTTISH OPERA
MICHAEL ROSWELL – Conductor
LINN (SACD)CKD 346

“ … pleasure there is to be had here in abundance – despite the efforts of marketing men to portray him as yet another so-called ‘opera singer’ with neither the talent nor the experience to perform operatic roles, Alfie Boe does have plenty of experience and all the necessary qualities to extract the maximum of charm from this music.
For the most part this is a well produced and well presented issue, with the Scottish Opera Orchestra responding idiomatically and a clear and well balanced recording.” MusicWeb International/ John Sheppard Jan. 2010

It’s no exaggeration to say that Franz Lehár’s 1905 The Merry Widow ushered in not only a new age of Viennese operetta, but showed the way forward towards the 20th century musical. Lehár was certainly the most logical successor to Johann Strauss II as Vienna’s waltz king.

Alfie Boe’s previous release (La Passione - EMI) of Neapolitan songs was a great success and he was singled out as a lyric tenor to watch out for in the future. In this release you will not be disappointed, Boe is able to bring so much variety, colour and control to his voice that there is a delightful contrast in all 12 pieces. Initially the English translation detracts slightly from his performance – mainly because we are not used to hearing this repertoire in English and it’s interesting to hear Vilia from the Merry Widow sung by the tenor instead if the heroine.

Most of us have heard this repertoire to distraction and often by performers who literally ‘trot them out’. In these renditions by Boe,
a lot of thought has gone into the balance and phrasing, the interpretations are fresh and natural.

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FRANZ LEHÁR Love was a Dream

Classic Breakfast