BaL 9.10.21 - Lehar: The Merry Widow

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

9.30 Building a Library
Nigel Simeone chooses his favourite recording of Lehar's The Merry Widow.

The Merry Widow by the Austro-Hungarian composer Franz Lehár is one of the most popular operettas in the repertoire. It's the story of a fabulously rich widow, and the political shenanigans involved in making sure her fortune stays in the principality by finding her the right husband. Since its 1905 premiere in Vienna, it continues to captivate and charm audiences with its tuneful score, including hits such as the "Vilja Song", "You'll Find Me at Maxim's" and the "Merry Widow Waltz".


Available versions:-


Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Erich Kunz, Nicolai Gedda, Emmy Loose. Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus, Otto Ackermann

Lisa della Casa, John Reardon, American Opera Society Orchestra and Chorus, Franz Allers

Alexander Klinger, Alfred Sramek, Birgid Steinberger, Margarita de Arellano, Johann Reinprecht, Mirjana Irosch, Mathias Hausmann, Marwan Shamiyeh, Peter Branoff, Bernd Ander, Daniel Serafin, Festival Orchestra Morbisch Und Choir, Rudolf Bibl

Margarita de Arellano, Mathias Hausmann, Marwan Shamiyeh, Elisabeth Starzinger, Orchester und Chor des Seefestspiele Mörbisch, Rudolf Bibl (DVD)

Renee Doria, Andrea Guiot, Lucien Huberty, Henri Bedex, Francois Gatto, Maurice Faure, Andre Daumas, Rene Herent, Daniel Marty, Jacques Pottier, Gerard Bourreli, Grand Orchestre De Rene Alix, Grand Choeur De René Alix, Marcel Cariven

Renée Fleming, Nathan Gunn, Kelli O’Hara, Alek Shrader, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Chorus & Ballet, Sir Andrew Davis (DVD)

John Meehan, Karen Kain, Raymond Smith, Yoko Ichino, National Ballet of Canada, National Ballet of Canada Orchestra, Ermanno Florio (Blu-ray)

Pamela Coburn, Juan Jose Lopera, Michael Heltau, Daniel Kirch, Katharina Richter, Karl Fath, Kay Steifermann, Cologne Radio Orchestra, Helmut Froschauer

Cheryl Studer, Barbara Bonney, Bryn Terfel, Boje Skovhus, Rainer Trost, Heinz Zednik, Monteverdi Choir, Vienna Philharmonic, John Eliot Gardiner *

Bo Skovhus, Petra-Maria Schnitzer, Lydia Teuscher & Gunther Emmerlich, Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden, Manfred Honeck (DVD)

René Kollo, Donald Grobe, Helga Trümper, Teresa Stratas, Elizabeth Harwood, Karl Renar, Zoltan Kelemen, Werner Hollweg, Werner Krenn, Chor der Deutschen Oper Berlin, Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan *

Véronique Gens, Ivan Ludlow, Magali Léger, François Le Roux, Gordon Gietz, David Lefort, Alexandre Guerrero, Opera de Lyon, Gerard Korsten (DVD)

Yvonne Kenny, Bo Skovhus, Angelika Kirchschlager, Gregory Turay, San Francisco Opera Orchestra, San Francisco Opera Chorus and Ballet, Erich Kunzel (DVD/VBlu-ray)

Marlis Petersen, Iurii Samoilov, Kateryna Kasper, Martin Mitterrutzner, Chor der Oper Frankfurt & Frankfurt Opern- und Museumsorchester, Joana Mallwitz

Franz Fehringer, Herta Talmar, Rita Bartos, Sándor Kónya, Großes Operettenorchester, Chor, Franz Marszalek *

Benno Kusche, Ingeborg Hallstein, Heinz Hoppe, Lucia Popp, Peter Alexander, Benno Kusche, Günter Kallmann Chor, Großes Operettenorchester, Franz Marszalek *

Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Eberhard Wachter, Josef Knapp, Nicolai Gedda, Hanny Steffek, Philharmonia Chorus and Orchestra, Lovro von Matacic *

Margit Schramm, Rudolf Schock, Dorothea Chryst, Jerry J. Jennings, Benno Kusche, Chor Der Deutschen Oper Berlin & Berliner Symphoniker, Robert Stolz *

Helen Donath, Hermann Prey, Norbert Orth, Siegfried Jerusalem, Benno Kusche, Edda Moser, Gisela Schunk, Friedrich Lenz, Munich Radio Orchestra, Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Heinz Wallberg


* = download only

[Bryn]

I wonder whether Nigel will mention the Shostakovich and Bartok links to a 'hit' from the work?

[makropulos]

I wonder whether Nigel will mention the Shostakovich and Bartok links to a 'hit' from the work?

It's certainly in my notes, so time permitting, yes. Amusing to contemplate the Shostakovitch family and 'Da geh ich zu Maxim'...

[Bryn]

It's certainly in my notes, so time permitting, yes. Amusing to contemplate the Shostakovitch family and 'Da geh ich zu Maxim'...

[Darloboy]

Perhaps surprisingly given its popularity, as far as I can tell this operetta has only been covered once before by BaL. In January 1992, Rodney Milnes picked Ackermann's 1953 mono recording as top recommendation with von Matacic's 1963 stereo recording as runner-up. So a double win for Schwarzkopf, Gedda and the Philharmonia. Sadler's Wells Opera Chorus and Orchestra conducted by William Reid was English language choice.

There was also a general operetta survey programme way back in June 1970, in which it's quite possible The Merry Widow featured but that was way before my time I'm afraid.

Almost a third of the recordings listed by Alpie are on DVD or Blu Ray so perhaps makropoulos will be able to give us a video choice?

[Darloboy]

Speaking of videos, I was surprised to find that the classic Lubitsch movie version doesn't seem to be available anywhere at the moment - not even for streaming. There is the odd clip such as this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQAgZCJ2Aqo on Youtube though.

[visualnickmos]

Perhaps surprisingly given its popularity, as far as I can tell this operetta has only been covered once before by BaL. In January 1992, Rodney Milnes picked Ackermann's 1953 mono recording as top recommendation with von Matacic's 1963 stereo recording as runner-up. So a double win for Schwarzkopf, Gedda and the Philharmonia. Sadler's Wells Opera Chorus and Orchestra conducted by William Reid was English language choice.

There was also a general operetta survey programme way back in June 1970, in which it's quite possible The Merry Widow featured but that was way before my time I'm afraid.

Almost a third of the recordings listed by Alpie are on DVD or Blu Ray so perhaps makropoulos will be able to give us a video choice?

Although operetta is not really my 'thing' albeit, there are some fine tunes and songs in many of them! I will listen with interest - principally because of the reviewer. Always excellent for my money. One thing for sure is that I would NEVER contemplate giving house space to Schwarzkopf. That voice...

From Alpie's superb list, I am drawn to ;

A) Cheryl Studer, Barbara Bonney, Bryn Terfel, Boje Skovhus, Rainer Trost, Heinz Zednik, Monteverdi Choir, Vienna Philharmonic, John Eliot Gardiner *

B) René Kollo, Donald Grobe, Helga Trümper, Teresa Stratas, Elizabeth Harwood, Karl Renar, Zoltan Kelemen, Werner Hollweg, Werner Krenn, Chor der Deutschen Oper Berlin, Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan *

Singers I particularly like

[LHC]

Although operetta is not really my 'thing' albeit, there are some fine tunes and songs in many of them! I will listen with interest - principally because of the reviewer. Always excellent for my money. One thing for sure is that I would NEVER contemplate giving house space to Schwarzkopf. That voice...

From Alpie's superb list, I am drawn to ;

A) Cheryl Studer, Barbara Bonney, Bryn Terfel, Boje Skovhus, Rainer Trost, Heinz Zednik, Monteverdi Choir, Vienna Philharmonic, John Eliot Gardiner *

B) René Kollo, Donald Grobe, Helga Trümper, Teresa Stratas, Elizabeth Harwood, Karl Renar, Zoltan Kelemen, Werner Hollweg, Werner Krenn, Chor der Deutschen Oper Berlin, Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan *

Singers I particularly like

The Gardiner is a fantastic performance, very well sung and the playing of the VPO is scintillating. To top it all, the whole thing fits on a single well-filled CD.

According to the Gramophone review when it was released, the VPO enjoyed working with JEG so much on this recording (the first time they had worked together), that they immediately agreed a series of further recordings with him and also invited him to conduct the annual Vienna Philharmonic Ball.

[Dermot]

Speaking of videos, I was surprised to find that the classic Lubitsch movie version doesn't seem to be available anywhere at the moment - not even for streaming. There is the odd clip such as this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQAgZCJ2Aqo on Youtube though.

https://m.ok.ru/video/1179106740755

[visualnickmos]

The Gardiner is a fantastic performance, very well sung and the playing of the VPO is scintillating. To top it all, the whole thing fits on a single well-filled CD.

According to the Gramophone review when it was released, the VPO enjoyed working with JEG so much on this recording (the first time they had worked together), that they immediately agreed a series of further recordings with him and also invited him to conduct the annual Vienna Philharmonic Ball.

Thanks for the info. Definitely on the wishlist...

[Darloboy]

https://m.ok.ru/video/1179106740755

Thank you so much :)

[MickyD]

The Gardiner is a fantastic performance, very well sung and the playing of the VPO is scintillating. To top it all, the whole thing fits on a single well-filled CD.

According to the Gramophone review when it was released, the VPO enjoyed working with JEG so much on this recording (the first time they had worked together), that they immediately agreed a series of further recordings with him and also invited him to conduct the annual Vienna Philharmonic Ball.

That's strange, I heard completely contrary reports of that collaboration at the time, and as far as I know, very few further recordings were made. But I agree, it's a fine disc.

[LHC]

That's strange, I heard completely contrary reports of that collaboration at the time, and as far as I know, very few further recordings were made. But I agree, it's a fine disc.

I think he released another 6 CDs with the VPO, including works by Schubert, Mendelsohn, Elgar, Chabrier and Bruckner, as well as a recording of lighter Viennese music by Heuberger, Lanner, Lehar, Supe and Ziehrer. Not one of his more prolific collaborations to be sure, but not too bad.

I'd agree though that this recording of the Merry Widow is the best of his VPO CDs.

[BBMmk2]

I hope Gardiner’s recording will get the honours.

[mikealdren]

Seems I'm in a minority of one in not taking to the Gardiner, too metronomic for me and lacking the "Gemütlichkeit" that's so necessary for Lehar. The hard driven opening puts me off from the start. Sad because there's some lovely singing and he has the VPO as well as excellent recording quality; a very disappointing missed opportunity.

For me it's Von Matačić who really allows the music to smile with Ackermann 2nd.