Victor Herbert: Dream City & The Magic Knight
Victor Herbert (composer), Cast, Chorus & Orchestra of the Ohio Light Opera, Steven Byess (conductor)
Rarely, if ever, has a successful Broadway show received such unanimously rave reviews, yet disappeared so quickly as Victor Herbert's 1906 Dream City & The Magic Knight. The show traces its genesis to attempts by the celebrated vaudeville team of Lew Fields and Joe Weber to interest Victor Herbert in writing music for one of their shows. Herbert had no interest in writing for vaudeville, but when Weber went out on his own as a producer, he contracted with Herbert for a comic opera. Billed as a "Dramatic Pipe in Two Puffs," the show's zany first act was in the musical comedy style; in the middle of the second act as an operatic burlesque, spoofing the conventions of grand opera, particularly Wagner's Lohengrin. The Ohio Light Opera offers a new performance edition, with complete music and dialogue recorded live at the 2014 Summer Festival.
Stream/Buy
Choose your platform
Track Listing
| Title | Composer | Performer |
|---|---|---|
| Dream City & The Magic Knight | Victor Herbert | Cast, Chorus & Orchestra of the Ohio Light Opera; Steven Byess, conductor |
Reviews
- “
“This recording is a valuable addition to the collections of those who love the old musi-cals that paved the way for Gershwin, Kern, and Rodgers.”
- “
“The hilarious and extractable Magic Knight is the gold in this piece, delivering both specific and general Wagnerian satire by the swan-boat-load…It’s hard to imagine a better performance of this little gem.”
*Album cover provided for Editorial use only. ©Albany Records. The Albany Imprint is a registered trademark of PARMA Recordings LLC. The views and opinions expressed in this media are those of the artist and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views and opinions held by PARMA Recordings LLC and its label imprints, subsidiaries, and affiliates.