an immensely enjoyable version of what is often described as the composer’s best work...The only name familiar to me was that of Heinz Zednik...All the rest, including the two main characters, also sing with obvious understanding of the nature of the work and I never found myself regretting the lack of voices with more obvious star quality.

[Dasch] is clearly having a ball here, despite slightly compromised middle and lower registers. Particularly pleasing is the sense of Weimar cabaret style she brings to her Act 3 ‘Lied der Pompadour’ in which she emphasizes various throaty, whooping vocal accents that recall the likes of Margo Lion and Lotte Lenya.

Fall was a deft orchestrator, and if there’s nothing that would sound out of place in a work from the 1860s (except the Carmen parody, I guess) there’s plenty to keep you amused for an hour...some of the roles are a bit hammy, but it’s all very likeable.