Lehar: Die Blaue Mazur

Beermann, Frank, Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester, Kammerchor der Singakademie Frankfurt

CPO 777 331-2

Local color is a very important element in Franz Lehár’s operettas. For him national color was a source of inspiration that cannot be underestimated: »The right mood is certainly the most important thing while composing. Depending on my mood, I turn to the Chinese libretto … as the spirit moves me, to the Polish libretto … It is much more amusing and is more beneficial to the composition when one does not work on it continuously.« When he made this revelation to a newspaper on the occasion of his fiftieth birthday in 1920, he was working on Die gelbe Jacke, the forerunner of Das Land des Lächelns, and on Die blaue Mazur (The Blue Mazurka), which would bring him a celebrated success on its premiere. Musically, it is one of his greatest masterpieces. The successful mixing of musical styles holds everything in suspenseful balance and never loses its lightness even in dramatic moments, and after a long hiatus dance once again plays a dramaturgically key role and is restored to its operetta pride of place. All of this is shown not only by the animated buffo numbers, dance waltzes, and the title mazurka but also by all three grand-scale finales. A genuine musical gem!

CD x 2

CPO

1/30/18

761203733125