This massive 5-CD collection from Reader’s Digest features evocative music scores from the rapidly disappearing world of the Operetta. What is operetta? It’s a lighter, shorter form of opera that generally includes spoken parts, dancing, and fast moving, often whimsical, plots. Reader’s Digest editors compiled the best melodies from this genre and commissioned the London Promenade Orchestra to record each and every one of their 101 choices.

Condition: Very Gently Used
CDs are clean and guaranteed not to skip.
Jewel case shows a little scruff but no cracks
The booklet is in worn shape, but complete and in satisfactory condition.

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You’ll hear selections from such dramas as West Side Story, Showboat, The King and I, The Merry Widow, The Mikado, Babes in Toyland, Camelot, Porgy and Bess, and many more.

A real effort has gone into the orchestration in this set, with most of the tunes inclusive of their opening verses or bridges. Another great thing, the music doesn’t stay in the one tempo - like many easy-listening instrumentals tend to do – This one follows the flow and energy of the theatrical performances from which they were adapted. If there is one criticism of this impressive collection is that it’s mostly instrumental – except for some of the Gilbert and Sullivan selections – so don’t expect to hear the usual vocals. These were all recorded by the London Promenade Orchestra.

Comes with a 64-page listeners guide with informational notes on each track.

It’s rare to find the complete 5-CD, two fat box version of this Reader’s Digest collection. So pick up this hard-to-find classic today.

101 Glorious Melodies from Operetta
5 CDs - 99 Tracks
Reader’s Digest Music – 1989

CD #1
1-01 I Could Have Danced All Night (My Fair Lady)
1-02 Serenade (The Student Prince)
1-03 I'm Falling In Love with Someone (Naughty Marietta)
1-04 Indian Love Call (Rose-Marie)
1-05 My Hero (The Chocolate Hero)
1-06 The Merry Widow Waltz (The Merry Widow)
1-07 Bess, You Is My Woman (Porgy And Bess)
1-08 Younger Than Springtime (South Pacific)
1-09 Smoke Gets In Your Eyes (Roberta)
1-10 Stars In My Eyes (Apple Blossoms)
1-11 Play Gypsies-Dance Gypsies (Countess Maritza)
1-12 I'll See You Again (Bitter Sweet)
1-13 Two Hearts In Three-Quarter Time (Two Hearts In Three-Quarter Time)
The Beloved Melodies Of Victor Herbert
NAUGHTY MARIETTA
1-14 Italian Street Song
1-15 Ah! Sweet Mystery Of Life
1-16 'Neath The Southern Moon
1-17 Tramp, Tramp, Tramp
1-18 A Kiss In The Dark (Orange Blossoms)
1-19 The Streets Of New York (The Red Mill)
1-20 Kiss Me Again (Mlle. Modiste)
1-21 Gypsy Love Song (The Fortune Teller)

2-01 Thine Alone (Eileen)
BABES IN TOYLAND
2-02 March Of The Toys
2-03 Toyland
2-04 Sweethearts (Sweethearts)
Yesterdays...Treasures Of Jerome Kern
2-05 The Song Is You (Music In The Air)
2-06 All The Things You Are (Very Warm For May)
2-07 Why Was I Born (Sweet Adeline)
2-08 I've Told Ev'ry Little Star (Music In The Air)
2-09 They Don't Believe Me (The Girl From Utah)
2-10 Yesterdays (Roberta)
SHOWBOAT
2-11 Introduction/Make Believe/You Are Love
2-12 Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man
2-13 Bill
2-14 Why Do I Love You?
2-15 Ol' Man River
Will You Remember?... Romberg Romance
2-16 The Desert Song (The Desert Song)
The New Moon
2-17 Stouthearted Men
2-18 One Kiss

CD # 3
3-01 Lover, Come Back To Me
3-02 Deep In My Heart, Dear (The Student Prince)
3-03 Romance (The Desert Song)
3-04 Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise (The New Moon)
3-05 The Riff Song (The Desert Song)
3-06 Golden Days (The Student Prince)
3-07 Wanting You (The New Moon)
3-08 One Alone (The Desert Song)
3-09 The Drinking Song (The Student Prince)
3-10 Will You Remember? (Maytime)
Unforgettable Favorites Of Rudolf Friml
3-11 The Donkey Serenade (The Firefly)
3-12 Rose-Marie (Rose-Marie)
THE VAGABOND KING
3-13 Song Of The Vagabonds
3-14 Only A Rose
3-15 Love Me Tonight
3-16 Some Day
Viennese Bonbons From Operetta
3-17 My Song Of Love (The White Horse Inn)
3-18 Vilia (The Merry Widow)
3-19 Waltzes (A Night In Venice)
3-20 Czardas (Die Fledermaus)

CD # 4
4-01 Gypsy Love Waltz (Gypsy Love)
4-02 Grand Waltz (Die Fledermaus)
The Fantasy And Romance Of Lerner And Loewe
CAMELOT
4-03 Camelot
4-04 If Ever I Would Leave You
BRIGADOON
4-05 The Heather On The Hill
4-06 There But For You Go I
4-07 Almost Like Being In Love
4-08 One The Street Where You Live (My Fair Lady)
Glorious Gems From Gershwin
4-09 'S Wonderful (Funny Face)
4-10 Someone To Watch Over Me (Oh, Kay!)
PORGY AND BESS
4-11 It Ain't Necessarily So
4-12 I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'
4-13 Embraceable You (Girl Crazy)
Of Thee I Sing
4-14 Who Cares
4-15 Of Thee I Sing
Encouraging Encores / Operetta Through The Years
THE KING AND I
4-16 Hello, Young Lovers
4-17 The March Of The Siamese Children
4-18 Something Wonderful
Kismet
4-19 Stranger In Paradise
4-20 Baubles, Bangles And Beads
4-21 And This Is My Beloved

CD # 5
5-01 The Carousel Waltz (Carousel)
5-02 All I Ask Of You (The Phantom Of The Opera)
5-03 Night Waltz (A Little Night Music)
WEST SIDE STORY
5-04 America
5-05 Maria
5-06 Somewhere
5-07 Tonight
Gilbert And Sullivan's Most Delightful Melodies
H.M.S. PINAFORE
5-08 Overture
5-09 Opening Chorus
5-10 I'm Called Little Buttercup
5-11 When I Was A Lad
THE MIKADO
5-12 Three Little Maids From School Are We
5-13 A Wand'ring Minstrel I
5-14 The Moon And I
5-15 Finale -- For He's Gone And Married Yum-Yum
5-16 Overture To The Yeomen Of The Guard
THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE
5-17 Pour, Pour The Pirate Sherry
5-18 Poor Wand'ring One
5-19 I Am The Very Model Of A Modern Major-General
5-20 With Cat-Like Tread

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Thanks for spending some time with Old Friends. Be sure to check out other high-quality classical music CD sets from Reader’s Digest.