Title: Victor Herbert at last!
Product review: Though not quite a perfect production, this stands at present as the only complete score to any Victor Herbert operetta, and that includes the dialogue to boot. (Vox has "The Red Mill" and "Sweethearts" almost musically complete but will not reissue them.) There is no attempt to camp things up or condescend to the music, but the line readings are typical of "operetta readings": not for one moment believable. The vocalizing, however, is quite acceptable. Newport Classics was wise to put the dialogue on its own tracks so one can program it out after a first hearing; and a complete libretto is supplied. The lyrics are turn-of-the-century horrible, the music ranges from just nice to really memorable...which is more than we say about most recent musicals. Any theater department should have a copy, and local groups should consider doing this as their next production.
Would you say this review depicts the product in a flattering or unflattering light?
