Opera Books

The Standard Operas

By George P. Upton

1928

NICOLAI (OTTO)

     “THE Merry Wives of Windsor,” opera comique, in three acts, text by Mosenthal, was first produced in Berlin, March 9, 1849; in London, May 3, 1864; in New York, April 27, 1868. The story of the opera follows closely that of the Shakespearean comedy, though the action is principally concerned with Falstaff’s adventures with the merry wives, the attachment between Fenton and Anne furnishing the romantic incident. Though the work of a German, the music is largely in the Italian style, and the dramatic finish is French. It is unnecessary to indicate the plot in further detail than to say it includes the receipt of Sir John’s amatory epistles by Mrs. Ford and Mrs. Page, his concealment among the foul linen in the hamper and subsequent sousing in the Thames, his sad experiences with Ford’s cudgels, and his painful encounter with the mock fairies, elves, and other sprites in Windsor Park.
     The leading numbers in the opera are a duet for the two merry wives, opening the opera, in which they read Falstaff’s letters (“No, no, this really is too bad”), closing with an exquisitely humorous phrase as they pronounce the name of the writer in unison; a beautiful little aria (“Joking and Laughter”), in the Italian style, sung by Mrs. Ford; and the finale to the first act, beginning with a serio-comic aria in which Mrs. Ford bewails her husband’s jealousy, followed by a sextet and chorus, and closing with a highly dramatic aria in which Mrs. Ford changes from grief to rage and violently denounces Ford.
     The second act opens with a drinking-song for Falstaff (“Whilst yet a Child on my Mother’s Breast”), which, as well as the accessories of the song, is full of rollicking, bacchanalian humor. Falstaff sings one verse, and his followers drain their huge mugs to the bottom. One of them falls senselessly drunk, and is immediately borne out upon the shoulders of his comrades with funereal honors, led off by Falstaff, all chanting a sort of mock dirge. A descriptive and spirited buffo duet between Falstaff and Ford follows, in which the former relates his adventures in the, hamper. The only remaining number of consequence in this act is the romanza (“Hark, the Lark in yonder Grove”), sung by Fenton. The last act is very short, and made up of a beautiful trio for Mrs. Ford, Mrs. Page, and Falstaff (“The Bell has pealed. the Midnight Chime”); the romantic ballad (“Of Herne, the Hunter, a Legend old”), and the fairy dance and chorus (“About, about, ye Elves, about”), which closes the opera.

Last updated October 31, 2006