The Classical Operetta Ensemble celebrated the 200th birthday of the father of Viennese Operetta with a rarity

 

Since its foundation in 1936 the Johann Strauss Society of Vienna has not only been concerned with the works of the waltz king, but also with the compositions of his musical contemporaries. Consequently, the Society members turned their attention to the oeuvre of Franz von Suppé in the 1950ies. (His bust on the monument of his grave of honour at the Vienna Central Cemetery can be seen on the cover). However, it took more than 80 years until the Johann Strauss Society presented a performance exclusively with music of this Austrian composer. On the occasion of his 200th birthday his operetta „Fatinitza“, which had been a sensational success in his time,was presented in concert form. The triumphant achievement of Fatinitza was only surpassed by his operetta „Boccaccio“, which was premiered three years later. As, in spite of its initial popularity, Fatinitza had fallen into oblivion, the Johann Strauss Society spared no efforrt to revive it.

With the support of the Vienna city administration the Society presented a concert perfomance of Fatinitza. The performance venue was the Lehár- Schössel, a music-historically significant building in the District of Döbling, which also displays memorabilia of Mozart and Puccini.

The following critique appeared in the December 2019 issue of „ Der Neue Merker“:

On the occasion of Franz von Suppé’s 200th birthday the Johann Strauss Society of Vienna presented Suppé’s „Fatinitza“ in a concert performance in chamber music form. The venue was the historical Lehár-Schlössel in the 19th district of Vienna. The event took place in the afternoon and the performance was completely sold out. After some charming welcoming words Prof.Mag.Peter Widholz, the President of the Society, gave a highly professional, extremely competent and interesting introduction to the history of the operetta in general, and to the plot of Fatinitza in particular. With genuine Viennese elegance he related the success story of Fatinitza to the intently listening audience. The operetta, which was premiered in the  Vienna Carltheater on 5th January 1876, achieved a sensational international success.

.Peter Widholz, who was in charge of the overall artistic dirction, slipped into the role of the war correspondent Julian von Golz, which he played and interpreted authentically with a beautiful tenor voice appropriate to the genre of operetta. Besides,he introduced each scene with connecting words.

The role of Wladimir, a young Russian sergeant during the Crimean War (1853 – 1856) was brilliantly sung and humorously presented with a beautiful lyric, soft and flexible mezzo-soprano by Gisela Theisen. Wladimir was transferred to the Turkish front along the Lower Danube by General Kantschukoff, because the young man had fallen in love with his niece Lydia, whom the General intended to marry off to a rich man. The part of General Kantschukoff was presented convincingly by Andreas Hirsch, powerful in voice and appearance as well as displaying a strong personality. Lydia was sung by Claudia Camie. Although indisposed, she mastered her role bravely and competently with a bell-clear, technically proficient soprano and presented her part gracefully. The role of Izzet Pascha was sung excellently and confidently with a crystal-clear tenor by Johannes Föttinger. His couplet in the second act was a climax of the performance.

The operetta was brilliantly presented by the Johann Strauss Society with its Classical Operetta Ensemble under the confident, sensitive and attentive musical direction of Margit Fussi at the piano. All in all, „Fatinitza“ had a sense of delicate and sensitive, yet at the same time highly professional Viennese operetta lightness in all arias, duets and ensembles.

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