Zigeunerliebe : Kaslik, Wallberg / Munich Radio Orchestra, Perry, Dallapozza (1974 Stereo)

Lehar: Zigeunerliebe (Gipsy Love)
Operetta Film from 1974

Janet Perry (Zorika), Ion Buzea (Jozsi)
Adolf Dallapozza (Jonel), Colette Lorand (Ilona)
Heinz Friedrich (Dragotin)
Munchner Rundfunkorchester
Heinz Wallberg, conductor

Directed by Vaclav Kaslik

Franz Lehar (1870-1948) found remarkably expressive and brilliantly colorful sounds for the drama and romantic moods of this unique topic. The style was decisively infl uenced by the familiar cadence of Hungarian gypsy music in the composer‘s native country. This is not only evidenced by the csardas rhythms or the inclusion of the cymbalom in the arrangement, but above all by the many pronouncedly melancholy hues of the melody and harmony produced by the use of minor keys.

After The Merry Widow and The Count of Luxembourg, Gypsy Love is Franz Lehar‘s third most successful operetta. After its triumphant Vienna premiere in 1910, it was performed all over the world from Broadway to the Far East, for example at the Empire Theater in Darjeeling, at the foot of the Himalayas! This 1974 film features major artists with extensive operatic experience such as Janet Perry, Ion Buzea and - last but not least - Adolf Dallapozza.

Run Time: 88 min.