Search - Flotow, Berger, Anders :: Martha

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madamemusico | Cincinnati, Ohio USA | 08/18/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Martha" is Flotow's most popular opera, a rarity in that it is a German comic opera written during the bel canto era (1847). It was also written in both German and Italian simultaneously (Flotow was multi-lingual), and so it was a hit in both countries, though it has only remained (sort of) a repertoire staple in Germany. The music is not only lyrical but sprightly, rhythmically and harmonically interesting, and full of fun.



Unfortunately, because the opera has never been a hit in the UK or US, there have only been three complete recordings of this gorgeous work. This, the first, was made in wartime Germany by a stellar cast and an excellent conductor; the second, made in 1967, starred Annaliese Rothenberger and Nicolai Gedda, was defeated by the sluggish conducting of the (very) aged Robert Heger. The third, the only digital recording of the opera, came out in the mid-1980s, featuring the lovely Lucia Popp, Peter Dvorsky as a staccato Lionel whose legato was pretty poor, and a conductor who, again, did not give enough lift and sparkle to the proceedings.



Thus this ancient relic has been resucitated on CD. It suffers not from cramped sonics (it was recorded in a spacious hall with good resonance) but from some distortion and "blasting" on high notes and loud passages from the orchestra and chorus, which is why I only give it a 4. Otherwise, however, the singing is superb in every respect, from Erna Berger's bright, sparkling Lady Harriet ("Martha") to Josef Griendl's dark, deep, comical Sir Tristan Mickleford. Peter Anders, who had one of the most beautiful German tenor voices of all time, was unfortunately recorded at a bit of a distance here, with the result that his voice sounds a bit pinched and metallic at times when it shouldn't. Because of these defects, then, I can only give it four stars instead of five. But I still heartily recommend this issue for those who enjoy comic opera without "issues." This one is pure fun, and Johannes Schuler's conducting is just superb!!!"