Csardas from Johann Strauss's Die Fledermaus

Today is the birthday of the great Viennese "Waltz King" Johann Strauss (October 25 1825 - June 3 1899).  He composed some 500 waltzes and polkas in his lifetime. He also composed  arguably the most popular of all operettas, Die Fledermaus.  Here is the aria, "Klange der Heimat" or more popularly known as the "Csardas", sung by Rosalinda in disguise as a Hungarian countess in the Act 2 Party Scene. There are many video clips of this great aria on Youtube. I've chosen Pamela Coburn in the 1987 Bavarian State Opera performance conducted by Carlos Kleiber. Interestingly it's a completely "authentic" cast of German/Austrian singers - except for the two women, Americans Pamela Coburn and Janet Perry as Rosalinda and Adele. But both ladies were totally idiomatic in their respective roles, and the conducting of Kleiber was sublime. 

- Joseph K. So