New-Yorker Stadt-Theater Opera: Merry Wives of Windsor

“Nicolai’s charming opera, a very clever musical setting of one of the most delightful of the Shakespearian comedies, was presented at the down town German opera house last night, with Miss Lina Mayr as Mrs. Ford, Miss Bartoldi as Mrs. Page, Miss Beckmann as Anne Page, Mr. Schütz as Fenton, Mr. William Formes as Ford, and Mr. Schönwolff as Falstaff. Miss Lina Mayr claims the first attention, and in the many taking morceaux which fell to her share she proved herself a thorough artist. The ‘Frau Reich’ of Miss Bartholdi was characterized by an absence of anything approaching to vocal or dramatic excellence and barely reached mediocrity. The same may be said of the Falstaff of the occasion. Mr. Schütz, who has an agreeable well cultivated tenor voice, and entire command of all the dramatic exigencies of an operatic rôle, eclipsed himself on this occasion. The chorus and orchestra, under the able direction of Mr. Adolph Neuendorff, left a very favorable impression on the minds of the audience.”

“The fantastic three-act opera, ‘The Merry Wives of Windsor,’ called to the Stadt Theatre last night a very select audience. Throughout the progress of the plot pretty solos and duets occur, which afford certain members of the company excellent opportunities for a display of their ability. Noticeable among these is a duet between Herr Schönwolff (Sir John Falstaff) and Herr Formes (Mr. Fluth); which occurs in the first scene of the second act. Miss Lina Mayr and Miss Marie Bartholdi, in the respective characters of Mrs. Fluth and Mrs. Reich, elicited from the usually phlegmatic audience rounds of applause. A solo by the former in the third scene of the second act was excellently rendered, and, to an encore, the prima donna appeared and repeated the song. In the last act a fine ballet occurs.”