This issue is very much the twin, in the same
series, of Lortzing’s ‘Der Wildschütz’, reviewed elsewhere
on this site. Both issues derive from complete recordings
of the works by DG and are conducted with idiomatic vitality by
Berhard Klee. This work, like the Lortzing, has few airings outside
Germany, preference being given to Verdi’s last work, very much
to the same plot, with this Windsor piece being known only by
its overture.
In the right hands Nicolai’s ‘Die lustigen’ is
effervescent and magically light and Klee’s conducting catches
the mood to perfection. In the overture the instruments are clearly
placed and the conductor’s taut, but well sprung rhythms, set
the scene well with the forward open airy acoustic being welcome
(tr.1). The long duet between the wives (tr. 2) shows the well
matched richly toned tuneful voices of Edith Mathis and Hanna
Schwarz singing to, and off, each other; both with exemplary diction.
In her own recit and aria ‘Nun eilt herbei’, No.3 in the score,
Mathis’s fine legato and characterization are heard to best effect
(tr. 3). However, for quality of characterization Kurt Moll’s
Falstaff takes some beating. His steady juicy tone and perfect
diction are a delight in ‘Als Büblein’ (tr. 4) and the various
ensembles. Bernd Weikl as Herr Fluth (Ford) is a worthy adversary
with smooth steady tone and good characterization, whilst Anna
his daughter, is sung with deliciously light tones by Helen Donath
(tr. 5). As her lover, Fenton, Peter Schreier sings well whilst
not erasing the memory of Wunderlich on the 1963 EMI Electrola
issue.
The sparse leaflet has a brief background to
the opera and a synopsis of the three acts, regrettably not track
related, in English and German. For whatever reason the complete
opera from which these excerpts derive is not currently available.
If you like what you hear here and want the complete work, then
the choice lies between two versiuons: (1) the 1963 EMI, with
Frick and Wunderlich outstanding in an otherwise underpowered
singing cast at mid price with libretto or (2) the later warmly
recorded and better sung recording under Kubelik’s baton on a
bargain priced ‘Double Decca’ with track related synopsis only.
This is a cast without weakness and with the
chorus and orchestra vibrant and well conducted. It constitutes
as pleasant a sixty minutes listening as I have had in a long
time
Robert J Farr
Chorus and orchestra
of the Staatskapelle Berlin/Bernhard Klee 
