Composer: Leo Fall
Performer: Aaron Benham, Josh Prisching, Robert Morrissey, Julia Tarlo, Nicole Hill, Alison Kelly, Gerald Frantzen, Kimberly McCord, Chris Guerra, Erich Buchholz, Khaki Pixely, Eric Casady, Sarah Bockel, Malia Ropp, Michelle Buck
Orchestra: Chicago Folks Operetta
Conductor: John Frantzen
Number of Discs: 2
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Naxos
Catalogue: 8660326-27
Release: 2013
Size: 507 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Die Rose von Stambul
CD 01
Act I
Scene 1
01. May your dreams be filled with ecstasy (Bul-Bul, Women, Djamileh) – Scene 2: Is Kondja awake? [Desiree, Bul-bul] – Scene 3: My dear, lovely Mademoiselle Desiree [Kemal Pasha, Desiree]
Scene 4
02. Morning sun now beckons you to rise (Bul-bul, Women, Kondja)
Scene 5
03. Oh, good morning (Women, Kondja, Midili)
04. Another heartfelt song (Kondja, Midili, Emine)
Scene 6
05. A foreign gentleman Is here! (Djamileh, Midili, Kondja, Fridolin)
06. Duet. A faithful daughter of tradition (Midili, Fridolin)
Scene 7
07. Girls, I’m so happy (Kondja, Desiree, Bul-bul, Midili)
Scene 8
08. Fair daughters of Circassia (Bul-bul, Achmed)
Scene 9
09. A thousand greetings dear, young man (Kemal Pasha, Achmed)
Scene 10
10. My beloved Kondja (Kemal Pasha, Kondja, Achmed)
Act I
11. Finale. Have you heard This little song (Kondja, Achmed)
CD 02
Act II
Scene 1
01. We Are all here for a joyous occasion (Men, Women, Achmed, Fridolin) – Scene 3: My future son-in-law [Kemal Pasha, Achmed]
Scene 4
02. Let me offer my warmest welcome (Achmed, Durlane, Fatme) – Daughters of tradition, delicate and quiet [Achmed, Women]
Scene 5
03. I have to take a peek into the bridal chamber (Midili, Fridolin)
04. Duet. I’ve never kissed a man before (Midili, Fridolin)
Scene 6
05. Behold, the radiant and lovely bride draws near (Women, Men, Achmed, Kondja, Kemal Pasha)
06. Sir, I am ready (Kondja, Achmed)
Scene 7
07. I’m still a little bashful (Fridolin, Durlane, Women, Midili)
Scene 8
08. Kondja we Are finally alone (Achmed, Kondja)
09. Will you dance? (Kondja, Achmed)
Act II
10. Finale. Who thinks about time when you’re happy? (Achmed, Kondja)
Act III
Scene 1
11. Everything must go like clockwork tonight (Hotel Director, Band Leader) – Scene 2: Schatzi! [Fridolin, Midili]
Scene 2
12. Goodness knows how much I’ve tried (Midili, Fridolin)
Scene 3
13. Where on God’s green earth am I? (Mr. Muller, Bell Hop) – Scene 4: Are Mr. And Mrs. Fridolin Muller staying here? [Kondja, Bell Hop, Midili]
Scene 5
14. Attention please! (Hotel Director, Achmed)
Scene 6
15. Two eyes full of yearning (Achmed)
Scene 7
16. Unbelievable! – Scene 8: Now listen – Scene 9: Achmed has gone crazy – Scene 10: Fridolin! – Scene 11: Oh no – Scene 12: Oh no, here she Is (Fridolin, Achmed, Mr. Muller, Midili)
Scene 12
17. Trio. Oh daddy (Fridolin, Midili, Mr. Muller)
Scene 13
18. Your intimate, romantic dinner (Hotel Director, Achmed) – Scene 14: It’s just as I told you [Hotel Director, Kondja, Achmed]
Leo Fall’s early career mirrored that of his famous contemporary Franz Lehár. Both were born in provinces of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and soon moved to the Imperial capital, Vienna. There they both wrote a series of glorious operettas. Fall’s The Rose of Stambul, set in Ottoman Turkey, is a sparkling masterpiece that ran for fifteen months, the most successful such work since Lehár’s The Merry Widow, composed eleven years earlier. The plot offers comedy, mistaken identity, cultural misunderstandings, exoticism, and, of course, a romance that must overcome various obstacles, while Fall’s melodies are exquisitely beautiful, with numerous hit songs.
Leo Fall was Lehár’s natural successor and wrote sparkling songs and ensemble numbers in operettas that, in the case of this one – The Rose of Stambul – was through-composed almost to an operatic extent. This recording is a perfect fit for lovers of Viennese operetta.