Bruce Ford sings Operetta

With full-blooded support, a fine tenor shines in a selection of testing arias

Record and Artist Details

Composer or Director: Robert Stolz, Franz Lehár, Carl (Johann Adam) Zeller, Oscar Straus, Johann Strauss II, Imre (Emmerich) Kálmán, Jacques Offenbach

Genre:

Vocal

Label: Opera in English Series

Media Format: CD or Download

Media Runtime: 75

Mastering:

Stereo
DDD

Catalogue Number: CHAN3088

Tracks:

Composition Artist Credit
(Das) Land des Lächelns, 'Land of Smiles', Movement: ~ Franz Lehár, Composer
Bruce Ford, Tenor
Franz Lehár, Composer
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Walter Weller, Conductor
(Das) Land des Lächelns, 'Land of Smiles', Movement: Dein ist mein ganzes Herz! (You are my heart's delight) Franz Lehár, Composer
Bruce Ford, Tenor
Franz Lehár, Composer
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Walter Weller, Conductor
(La) Belle Hélène, 'Beautiful Helen', Movement: Au mont Ida (Paris) Jacques Offenbach, Composer
Bruce Ford, Tenor
Jacques Offenbach, Composer
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Walter Weller, Conductor
Gräfin Mariza, 'Countess Maritza', Movement: ~ Imre (Emmerich) Kálmán, Composer
Bruce Ford, Tenor
Imre (Emmerich) Kálmán, Composer
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Walter Weller, Conductor
(Der) Zigeunerbaron, '(The) Gipsy Baron', Movement: ~ Johann Strauss II, Composer
(Geoffrey) Mitchell Choir
Bruce Ford, Tenor
Johann Strauss II, Composer
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Walter Weller, Conductor
(Der) Zigeunerbaron, '(The) Gipsy Baron', Movement: Wer uns getraut Johann Strauss II, Composer
(Geoffrey) Mitchell Choir
Bruce Ford, Tenor
Helen Williams, Soprano
Johann Strauss II, Composer
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Walter Weller, Conductor
(Eine) Nacht in Venedig, '(A) Night in Venice', Movement: Ach, wie herrlich zu schau'n (Lagoon waltz) Johann Strauss II, Composer
Bruce Ford, Tenor
Johann Strauss II, Composer
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Walter Weller, Conductor
(Der) Vogelhändler, '(The) Bird Catcher', Movement: ~ Carl (Johann Adam) Zeller, Composer
(Geoffrey) Mitchell Choir
Bruce Ford, Tenor
Carl (Johann Adam) Zeller, Composer
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Walter Weller, Conductor
(Das) Lied ist aus, Movement: Frag' nicht, warum ich gehe Robert Stolz, Composer
Bruce Ford, Tenor
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Robert Stolz, Composer
Walter Weller, Conductor
(Ein) Walzertraum, '(A) Waltz Dream', Movement: ~ Oscar Straus, Composer
Alan Opie, Baritone
Bruce Ford, Tenor
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Oscar Straus, Composer
Walter Weller, Conductor
Chandos and the Peter Moores Foundation have made an excellent job of incorporating an operetta volume into their Opera in English series. They offer some of the more testing and rewarding arias for an operetta tenor, and there are no terrors for Bruce Ford in the high notes of ‘You Are My Heart’s Delight’ or the vocal leaps of Paris’s aria from La belle Hélène. One soon adjusts to the slightly hard edge to Ford’s voice and warms to his enviable control of dynamics and expression. If anything is missing, it’s perhaps a touch of fun or devilry, though there is something of the latter in Kálmán’s ‘Play, gypsy’, which Ford makes another of the best things here. If previous tenors make more of individual numbers, few are more consistently admirable throughout a whole CD.

What’s equally endearing is the strength of the supporting forces. There are full-blooded performances from orchestra and chorus, with idiomatic interpretations under a conductor steeped in the Viennese tradition, exotic instruments as required, and soprano and baritone contributions that ensure full authenticity and welcome variety.

If momentarily I raise an eyebrow at the inclusion in this ‘Viennese Operetta’ collection of one French aria and not one but two non-operetta items by Robert Stolz – one a Viennese song performed with authentic Schrammel-style accompaniment – it is justified by the delightful results achieved. Ford’s enunciation throughout is admirable, and the accompanying booklet fills in anything unclear in what’s being sung. In any language it’s a highly recommendable collection.

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