Ever since his Leipzig debut in 1896, Franz Lehár longed to be produced at the Vienna State Opera. The barriers – beginning with Mahler who thought his music amateurish – went up from the start. It was only a financial crisis that led Clemens Krauss, desperate for a box office hit, to open the hallowed portals to the now famous composer in 1934. The result was Giuditta, and it tolled a knell not just for Lehár – it was his final stage work – but for Viennese operetta itself, an art form destined not to survive the Anschluss.
That sense of resignation hangs over this bittersweet romance. Giuditta, an innkeeper’s wife, elopes with Octavio, a soldier, to Africa. When he slips off to battle, she believes herself abandoned, becomes a dancer and finally agrees to a liaison with a wealthy English Lord. Octavio returns too late – he still cares, but the song of love “faded away long ago”.
Lehár really pushes the boat out, creating his richest, most beautifully orchestrated score, packed with melodic arias including Giuditta’s Meine Lippen, sie küssen so heiß. Ulf Schirmer’s new Munich recording is orchestrally stunning, perfectly paced with full, rich sound. Christiane Libor is glorious and daring in the title role, her voice passionate, full and securely managed. A tenor to watch, Nikolai Schukoff matches her note for note in the taxing Tauber role of Octavio. The only weak link is Laura Scherwitzl, as half the comedy couple, who comes a cropper on top notes. The rest are fine to very fine. Collectors need not hesitate.
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