Comments on: An Overdose Of Nostalgia: The Arthaus TV Operetta Series

By: Bob Brothers

Bob Brothers — Wed, 13 Jul 2022 13:12:22 +0000

Decades ago I remember watching a TV presentation of Graefin Mariza with Anneliese Rothenberger. Maybe I’ve been dreaming all these years, but I firmly believe what I remember. Am I wrong that there was such a production? I can find no evidence that it ever happened. Please ease my mind!

By: David Wheeler

David Wheeler — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 16:19:59 +0000

I’ve had some of these for years. I haven’t seen any other video versions of Zigeunerliebe, Die Dollarprinzessin or Schwarzwaldmädel available. I’m not keen on the Mörbisch versions. Hearing Teresa Stratas sing Giuditta is also something I find special. The political research is fascinating: for me operetta is about glorious music well sung, and I can exit this world knowing I’ve seen shows at the Volksoper, Bad Ischl (where I also played Dein ist mein ganzes Herz on his piano) and the Budapesti Operettszínház.

By: David Smith

David Smith — Tue, 30 Oct 2018 23:40:25 +0000

I have most of this DVD series. I watch and enjoy them. With so little operetta available, one gets what one can. I also have the Morbisch productions, again for the lack of anything better. In fact you might call it binge watching but my wife and I watched both the 2018 and 2004 versions of Grafin Mariza and enjoyed both. I do wish that some of the emerging work in Germany was available. UTUBE versions are ok but most lack English subtitles and considering all of the dialogue in most operetta that presents a problem for me.

By: Bill White

Bill White — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 04:18:17 +0000

I agree with Mr. Greif that your political comments are unwarranted and quite a little naive. Sure, some of these 1970s era made for TV videos are a little shlocky but what that has to do with performance practices in Nazi Germany I cannot possibly fathom. Witless productions were not invented by the Nazis, and some of these videos do actually sparkle with wit and provide fine entertainment. For instance, I find the Graf von Luxemburg one if the best operetta videos I have seen, even cut though it is. Arthaus quite likely does not own the rights to all those others you bemoan, they are just trying to make a buck here. I find this review quite disappointingly poor and ill thought-out.

Bill White

By: kevin

kevin — Sun, 09 Apr 2017 14:31:12 +0000

Thank you for your response. I believe that the history of operetta and its performance traditions are highly political, so any “review” of film versions re-released on DVD representing an ideal strongly influences by post-1933 ideology is a political statement, at least in my opinion. (And the article is written by me, under my name, so yes, you are likely to get my opinion in the text, which I try to explain.) Obviously, everyone is welcome to their own position here, and I look forward to reading your alternative look at these DVDs.

By: Paul Greif

Paul Greif — Sun, 02 Apr 2017 19:15:02 +0000

Thank you for alerting readers to the welcome news that these vintage television adaptations that you unjustly malign will be released on DVD. Unfortunately, you prove yourself to be a genuine idiot (as well alienating some of those visiting this site) by making a gratuitous reference to “Trump’s America, where voters long for the “good old day” of white supremacy.” Such unwarranted intrusion of your own political views is wholly unwarranted and is completely unprofessional.