JOHANN STRAUSS II (1825-1899): Die Göttin der Vernunft.

Description: World Premiere Recording of Strauss' very last operetta, rescued from the basement of the Austrian National Library and, after six months of work, put into shape for performance by the conductor here. Set in 1794 in Chalons during the Reign of Terror, the libretto mocks religion, the aristocracy, morality and the army while portraying the bloodthirsty Jacobins as harmless clowns. The Austrian censors had their work cut out for them but what survived was a success (although both laudatory and disparaging newspaper reviews appeard) and Die Göttin ran for 36 performances before vanishing until this 2009 recording in Slovakia. Vintage Strauss, with the expected ravishing waltz tunes but also several of his most exuberant and stirring marches as well. A detailed, eight-page synopsis with track points almost obviates the libretto which never appears with Strauss operettas, no matter what the label is which has recorded them. 2 CDs. No libretto. Veronika Groiss, Isabella Ma-Zach (sopranos), Manfred Equiluz, Kirlianit Cortes, Franz Födinger (tenors), Slovak Sinfonietta Zilina; Christian Pollack.