A Tribute to Operetta - A Franz Lehár Gala / Carreras, Domingo, Hampson, Lind, Rost

Clocking in at nearly 80 minutes, this CD of Viennese operetta arias should carry a surgeon general's warning against overdosing on sugary confections. The music's grand, though, and with so many favorite operetta hits zipping by, the time flies. Not all the way back to old Vienna, however, since today's all-stars can't challenge memories of Richard Tauber, Josef Schmidt, and other stylish exponents of singing in three-quarter time. But they acquit themselves well, and sopranos Eva Lind and Andrea Rost are especially fetching. Baritone Thomas Hampson is idiomatic and also sounds like he's having fun, while Placido Domingo gives considerable pleasure. José Carreras's fans will be disappointed--he's clueless in Vienna. But for a real treat, listen to Rost's "Meine Lippen" from Lehar's Giuditta. Hot stuff! --Dan Davis