Diana Damrau collaborated with Elke Kottmair, a soprano who specialized in operetta and was engaged at Dresden State Operetta for 12 years, to compile this album's repertoire.
Performer Biography
Diana Damrau, the soprano on this album, grew up listening to operetta LPs and radio programs, and watching operetta films on TV.
Compositional Technique
Operetta requires singers who are adept at operatic cantilena, light coloratura, and chanson-style singing, along with strong acting skills and crystal-clear articulation.
Cultural Impact
The operetta 'Indigo und die vierzig Räuber' by Johann Strauss II was performed on 23 stages in eight different countries after its premiere, while 'Die Fledermaus' was performed on over 170 stages in 16 countries, including the USA, Russia, Australia, and India.
Historical Context
In its early days, operetta functioned as a form of cabaret, allowing political and social grievances to be presented on stage while circumventing censors.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Operetta is described as a comprehensive genre of music theatre that is sharp, caustic, ironic, effervescent, authentic, naive, and disarming, rarely failing to work its magic on audiences.
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