Reviews

Because of an earlier comment that this is the best Fledermaus available on DVD, I cast my vote as no. The 1972 version with Wachter as a younger Eisenstein is much superior. To begin with, the 1972 version is less stagy. One actually gets the feel that it was filmed in natural surroundings. The loud applause in the 1986 version is jarring, offensive plus there is too much footage of the conductor waving his hands while interesting action is occurring on the stage. I feel the cast is overall stronger in the 1972 version. The 1986 Adele seems to lose control of her high notes in the Laughing Song. Wachter is much livelier, more buoyant in 1972; he is grimmer and "dangerous" in 1986. Otto Schenk (1972) is the irreplaceable Frosch. Rosalinde is the only member of the 1986 cast I thought superior to the comparable 1972 actor, although Kiri Te Kanawa is my all time favorite Rosalinde.