No
reference to this work will be found
under a reference entry for Lehár
for the work was conceived in the 1950s
by Raymond Vincy (libretto). Lehár's
music was adapted by Prof. Rekai and
Paul Bonneau for a Paris production
at the Châtelet Theatre. As the
date suggests, it is more a musical
than an operetta even though Lehár's
music does fall squarely into the operetta
period.
The
plot concerns an amorous Count from
Budapest and his exploits. It is a trivial
story which ends with Franz returning
to hear music on the Eve of Christmas.
On that night a fete is held to celebrate
the felicitations of Count Michel and
his fiancé, Vilma, the Rose of
Christmas, from where the title gets
its name.
Nicole
Broissin is a good soprano with bright
timbre, which however tends to mask
good diction. She excels in her short
'Tant que je vivrai' [CD2 tk.14].
André Dassary is a particularly
strong tenor who shows strain in reaching
his tops. In some songs he uses a flutter
vibrato more appropriate to pre-war
than post-war fashion. He is at his
best in Déjà [CD2
tk.15] with bohemian overtones that
imitate Kalman rather more than Lehár.
Support from the other soloists and
chorus is lively and appropriate. Rosine
Bredy sings enticingly in 'Modiste
et modeste' [CD2 tk.11], a duet
with Henri Chanaron. The music includes
are some fine numbers. The atmospheric
'Chateau hanté' (haunted
house) is convincingly spooky with its
fluttering flute accompaniment yet comes
to a surprisingly abrupt end.
The brief
notes in French are provided in a card
CD case.
Raymond
Walker
Other
sets in the Accord 'Operette' series:
Audran, La Mascotte [465 877-2];
Benatzky, L'Auberge du Cheval Blanc
[465 880-2]; Christiné, Dédé
[461 961-2] Phi-Phi [465
886-2]; Dumas, Ignace [472 877-2];
Ganne, Les Saltimbanques [465
868-2]; Goublier, La Cocarde de Mimi
Pinson [461 964-2]; Lecocq, La
Fille de Madame Angot [465 883-2]
Le Petit Duc [472 874-2]; Lehár,
Paganini [472 868-2]; Maillart, Les
Dragons de Villars [472 865-2];
Messager, Véronique [465
864-2]; Offenbach, La Belle Hélenè
[461 954-2] La Fille du Tambour Major
[461 673-2] La Grande Duchesse de
Gérolstein [465 871-2]; Planquette,
Les Cloches de Corneville [465
861-2]; Strauss, Trois Valses
[461 958-2]; Varney, Les Mousquetaires
au Couvent [465 874-2]; Yvain, La-Haut
[461 967-2]
Operette
series from Universal Accord reviewed
by Ray Walker
Nicole Broissin (sop) Vilma; André Dassary
(ten) Count Michel; Rosine Bredy (sop) Totsi;
Henri Chanaron (ten) Lieutenant Sandor; Henry
Bedex (bar) Popelka