Albert Lortzing is probably best known for his opera “Zar und Zimmermann,” so we’ll be showcasing two others on this week’s Sunday Opera (3/8 3:00 p.m.): "Der Wildschutz" and "Der Opernprobe."
We’ll begin with “Der Wildschutz oder Die Stimme der Natur” (“The Poacher or The Voice of Nature”) a 1842 comedy about the problems faced by a young couple, the schoolteacher Baculus (Hans Sotin) and his fiancée Gretchen (Georgine Resnick), as they try to avoid the attentions showered on Gretchen by the Count (Gottfried Hornik) and deal with the charges levelled against Baculus for poaching one of the Count’s deer.
It all works out for the best with the help of the Countess (Doris Soffel) and the Baroness (the Count’s sister) (Edith Mathis) and an unfortunately dead donkey.
Bernhard Klee conducts the Berlin Radio Chorus and Children’s Chorus along with the Staatskapelle Berlin.
Our second work was Lortzing’s last; he died the day after it premiered. It’s another comedy entitled “Der Opernprobe” which is subtitled “The Dainty Dilemma” from 1851.It deals with all of the complications of an opera rehearsal and all of the confusion that ensues because of an arranged marriage, disguises, and far too many flirtations. The cast from this recording includes Leo Heppe, Barbara With, Edith Kermer, Dorothea Siebert, and Franz Fuchs. Kurt Richter conducts the Vienna Radio Orchestra and Chorus.
We’ll end out time together with the overture and opening scene of another of Lortzing’s works, “Der Waffenschmied” (The Armorer”) featuring Herman Prey and Gerhard Unger with the Bavarian State Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Fritz Lehan.
