Der Opernball is not one of the all-time great operettas in the way that Die Fledermaus and Die Lustwige Witwe are, but it does have its fun and charm and while the music is not the most memorable score in operetta it does have the wonderful In Chambre Seperee. I very much liked this film of Der Opernball, as I did with most of the operetta films made during the early 1970s. It is very sumptuous visually, and filmed beautifully with little signs of awkwardness. The stage direction always maintains interest and clearly has a lot of heart. The orchestra perform the music really brilliantly, the orchestration is still very pleasant on the ears even with the odd tweak and the orchestral playing does nothing to make me change my mind. The singing is splendid and very well suited for the operetta style, and the acting doesn't feel overegged or dull. Helen Mane is particularly good.
All in all, very charming and well-done. 9/10 Bethany Cox
