Flotow: Martha

Magnificently remastered - you would never guess this tuneful opera was recorded in Berlin in 1944. Anders leads a fine cast, with Berger a winning Harriet. — BBC Music Magazine, Christmas Issue 2013, 4 out of 5 stars

Release Date: 10th Jun 2013
Catalogue No: 94681
Label: Brilliant Classics
Series: Opera Collection
Length: 1 hour 43 minutes

Excerpt, Flotow: Martha

Work length8:08

$2.00

$2.60

Erna Berger, Else Tegetthoff, Eugen Fuchs, Peter Anders, Josef Greindl, Franz Sauer
Chor der Berliner Staatsoper, Staatskapelle Berlin
Johannes Schüler

Overture

Track length8:08

$2.00

$2.60

Flotow: Martha, Act I

Work length35:29

$9.00

$11.70

Erna Berger, Else Tegetthoff, Eugen Fuchs, Peter Anders, Josef Greindl, Franz Sauer
Chor der Berliner Staatsoper, Staatskapelle Berlin
Johannes Schüler

Dart mit nachtig dustren Traumen (Servants, Nancy, Lady)

Track length3:02

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Recitative and Duet. Teure Lady! - Von den edlen Kavalieren (Nancy, Lady)

Track length5:07

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Gnaden Tristan Mickleford! (3 Servants, Lady) - Trio. Schöne Lady und Cousine [Tristan, Lady, Nancy, Maids, Chorus]

Track length8:15

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Act I: Madchen, brav und treu (Chorus)

Track length2:02

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Duet. Wie das schnattert - Ja, seit fruher Kindheit Tagen (Plumkett, Lyonel)

Track length5:09

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$1.30

Finale. Der Markt beginnt! - Ich kann mahen (Chorus, Sheriff, 3 Maids)

Track length4:13

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Finale. Vorwarts, Bob - Recitative. Wetter, ein paar schmucke Kinder! - Ich kann mahen (Lady, Nancy, Tristan, Plumkett, Lyonel, Maids, Tenants)

Track length1:51

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Finale. Quartet: Sieh nur, wie sie uns betrachten! (Lady, Nancy, Plumkett, Lyonel)

Track length5:50

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$1.30

Flotow: Martha, Act II

Work length24:50

$6.00

$7.80

Erna Berger, Else Tegetthoff, Eugen Fuchs, Peter Anders, Josef Greindl, Franz Sauer
Chor der Berliner Staatsoper, Staatskapelle Berlin
Johannes Schüler

Entr'acte and Quartet: Nur naher, blode Madchen - Madels, dort ist eure Kammer! (Plumkett, Lyonel, Lady, Nancy)

Track length4:19

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Quartet: Was soll ich dazu sagen? (Lyonel, Plumkett, Nancy, Lady)

Track length4:51

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Duet. Nancy! Julia! Verweile! - Blickt sein Auge doch so ehrlich (Lady, Lyonel)

Track length3:24

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$1.30

Letzte Rose, wie magst du so einsam hier bluhn - Martha! Herr! - Lass mich dir sagen (Lady, Lyonel)

Track length5:19

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$1.30

Warte nur, das sollst du bussen! - Schlafe wohl - Und mag dich reuen (Plumket, Nancy)

Track length4:34

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$1.30

Recitative and Trio. Nancy! Lady! Was nun weiter? - Fort von hinnen, lasst uns eilen (Lady, Nancy, Tristan)

Track length2:23

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$1.30

Flotow: Martha, Act III

Work length17:16

$7.00

$9.10

Erna Berger, Else Tegetthoff, Eugen Fuchs, Peter Anders, Josef Greindl, Franz Sauer
Chor der Berliner Staatsoper, Staatskapelle Berlin
Johannes Schüler

Entr'acte and Porter Song. Lasst mich euch fragen (Plumkett, Chorus)

Track length2:33

$1.00

$1.30

Horch, die Jagdfanfaren tonen - Auch wir Frau'n (Chorus, Plumkett, Ladies)

Track length1:07

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Blitz! Die wilde Jagd (Plumkett, Nancy, Chorus)

Track length1:47

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Darum pfluck icho Rose - Wo war ich? (Lyonel)

Track length1:21

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$1.30

Aria. Ach so fromm, ach so traut (Lyonel)

Track length2:57

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$1.30

Finale. Die Herrin rastet dort - Hier im Grun der schatt' gen Baum - Diese Stimme! - Ha! Der Frechheit (Tristan, Lady, Lyonel, Chorus, Plumkett, Nancy)

Track length4:26

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Quintet: Mag der Himmel euch vergeben (Lyonel, Lady, Nancy, Plumkett, Tristan, Chorus)

Track length3:05

$1.00

$1.30

Flotow: Martha, Act IV

Work length17:26

$3.00

$3.90

Erna Berger, Else Tegetthoff, Eugen Fuchs, Peter Anders, Josef Greindl, Franz Sauer
Chor der Berliner Staatsoper, Staatskapelle Berlin
Johannes Schüler

Recitative and Duet. Lady! My Lady! Trauer Freund (Nancy, Plumkett, Lady) - Duet. Der Lenz ist gekommen [Lady, Lyonel]

Track length6:21

$1.00

$1.30

Recitative and Duet. Fasst euch, Lady! (Nancy, Plumkett, Lady) - Duet. Ja, was nun? [Plumkett, Nancy]

Track length5:36

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Finale. Hier die Buden, dort die Schenke - Seht, dort naht er - Jetzt, ihr Freunde - Ich kann entsagen (Chorus, Lady, Ladies, Men, Nancy, Maids, Tenants, Plumkett, Lyonel)

Track length5:29

$1.00

$1.30

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About

Though its popularity has sadly diminished over the years, up to about the middle of the last century Martha was one of the most frequently performed operas on the German stage - largely owing to the great tenor Enrico Caruso's acclaimed portrayal of Lyonel, a role which he repeated all over the world. The work is one of about 30 operas written by Friedrich von Flotow, and indeed it was through Martha that the German composer achieved lasting fame. Only a decade after its first performance, and Martha has already been performed as far afield as Algiers, San Francisco and Sydney.

The seed of the opera can be found in the pastiche ballet Lady Harriette, whose Act 1 Flotow was commissioned by the Paris Opéra to write in 1844. Set in Richmond, England, during the reign of Queen Anne, the plot centres around Lady Harriet Durham who, tired of court life, decides to have some fun by visiting the local fair with her foppish cousin Lord Tristan and maid Nancy. Disguised as servant girls, both she and Nancy hire themselves off to the rich farmer Plumkett and his foster brother Lyonel (whose origins are unknown, the only vestige being a ring which his father left him and which he should present to the queen if ever he is in danger) -- only to be wooed by the two men, who have each fallen for the maid and her lady respectively. When the next day Queen Anne is out hunting with Lady Harriet and her court, a chance encounter with Lyonel sees him make claim to his 'maid', and he is subsequently arrested, having been declared insane by Harriet and Lord Tristan. But when his ring is brought to the queen, Harriet is told that he is in fact the son of the unjustly banished Early of Derby, and she rushes back to the farm to relay the news and to ask for Lyonel's hand in marriage. Lyonel at first angrily rejects her, but a replica of Richmond Fair sees the initial encounter between the four characters renewed, giving rise to jubilant celebrations.

Made in Berlin in 1944 while Germany was still in a state of 'total war', this recording remains one of the most acclaimed interpretations of the opera. Comprising some of the best singers of that generation, it is astutely conducted by Johannes Schüler -- to whose credit the Staatsoper was able to rebuild its repertoire after 1945 - and thus represents an invaluable addition to Brilliant Classics' ever-growing opera collection.

Reviews

Christmas Issue 2013

Magnificently remastered - you would never guess this tuneful opera was recorded in Berlin in 1944. Anders leads a fine cast, with Berger a winning Harriet.

Flotow: Martha

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