Lehár Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Nicolai Gedda, Erich Kunz, Emmy Loose, Otakar Kraus, Philharmonia Orchestra, Otto Ackermann - Die lustige Witwe Das Land Des Lächelns
Die Lustige Witwe & Das Land Des Lächelns: A Wild Ride Through Operetta Heaven
Alright, buckle up, folks. This album is not for the faint of heart. If you’re looking for some sappy pop tunes or lazy lo-fi beats to study to, turn back now. "Die Lustige Witwe" and "Das Land Des Lächelns," conducted by Otto Ackermann with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf and Nicolai Gedda leading the charge, is a full-blown operetta assault on your senses. It’s big, brassy, and unapologetically romantic—like that one uncle who shows up at family gatherings in a velvet suit and starts quoting poetry.
Let’s cut straight to the good stuff: “Dein ist mein ganzes Herz!” from Das Land Des Lächelns. Holy smokes, this track hits harder than a linebacker on caffeine. Gedda’s voice? Pure gold. The guy doesn’t just sing; he owns every single note like it owes him money. You can practically feel his desperation clawing through the speakers as he belts out lines about love and loss. And Schwarzkopf? She counters him with this cool, icy elegance that somehow makes your chest tighten anyway. It’s messy, emotional, and absolutely unforgettable—like eavesdropping on an argument between two divas in a crowded café.
Then there’s “Ich bin eine anständ’ge Frau” from Die Lustige Witwe. Oh man, where do I even start? Erich Kunz steals the show here with his comedic timing so sharp it could slice bread. He’s got this swaggering charm that flips between hilarious and oddly touching faster than you can say “Wiener schnitzel.” The orchestra behind him? Tight as hell. Every string swell and brass blast feels like they’re daring you not to tap your foot. By the time the chorus kicks in, you’ll either be laughing uncontrollably or questioning all your life choices. Either way, mission accomplished.
What really slaps about this release (yeah, I said it) is how polished yet raw it feels. Sure, it’s remastered by Andrew Walter, but they didn’t scrub away the soul of these performances. You can still hear the grit in the voices, the tiny imperfections that remind you real humans made this magic happen. Plus, bonus points for including synopses and librettos in five languages—because nothing screams “high culture” like reading along while pretending you totally understand German.
Now, let me hit you with something weird: listening to this album feels like stepping into a time machine—but instead of going forward or backward, you’re stuck in this bizarre loop where champagne glasses clink endlessly, and everyone’s wearing way too many feathers. And honestly? That’s kinda awesome. In a world full of cookie-cutter playlists and algorithm-driven garbage, albums like this are rare gems. They don’t make ‘em like Lehár anymore, and maybe that’s for the best—but damn, we should appreciate what we’ve got.
So yeah, if you wanna experience classical music that punches you in the gut and leaves you breathless, grab this sucker. Just don’t blame me when you find yourself humming polkas in the shower.
About Lehár Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Nicolai Gedda, Erich Kunz, Emmy Loose, Otakar Kraus, Philharmonia Orchestra, Otto Ackermann
Austro-Hungarian composer most known for his Viennese operettas.
He was born 30 April 1870 in Komárom, Kingdom of Hungary, AustriaHungary (today Komárno in Slovakia) and died 24 October 1948 in Bad Ischl, Austria.
Here’s an interesting fact: The album *Die lustige Witwe / Das Land Des Lächelns* is a stunning collection of operettas performed by legendary artists like Elisabeth Schwarzkopf and Nicolai Gedda. What makes it special is that it wasn’t just released once—it was remastered in 2010, breathing new life into these timeless recordings. The remastering was done by Andrew Walter, who worked to preserve the lush sound of the Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus. And here’s the kicker: the bonus disc includes translations of the libretto in five languages! So whether you’re into German, French, or even Spanish, you can fully immerse yourself in Lehár’s romantic world. Pretty cool, right?
