SATURDAY MATINÉE
Operetta in the afternoon
Prepared by Elaine Siversen
With Jules Laurent

Lehár, F. Friederike. Operetta in three acts. Libretto by Ludwig Herzer and Fritz Löhner. First performed Berlin, 1928.   

Lehár, F. Friederike, Overture & Act I   
[41:37]

Lehár, F. Friederike, Act II   
[41:38]

Lehár, F. Friederike, Act III   
[11:51]

   FRIEDERIKE: Helen Donath, sop
JOHANN WOLFGANG GOETHE: Adolf Dallapozza, ten
JAKOB LENZ: Martin Finke, ten
CAPTAIN KNEBEL: Jürgen von Pawels, bar
DUKE OF SAXE-WEIMAR: Harry Kalenberg, voice
SALOMEA: Gabriele Fuchs, sop
Bavarian Radio Choir; Munich RO/Heinz Wallberg.
Warner Classics 5054196055127 [01:35:06]

   Friederike exchanges expressions of love with Johann Wolfgang Goethe. He is a student at Strasbourg University but another student, Jakob Lenz, warns Friederike of the danger of loving Goethe who is known to flit from one girl to another. Goethe reassures her that, for all the attention he gets from the other young ladies, it is to her that his heart is truly given. He has been offered a post as poet at the Court of Weimar. When Captain Knebel arrives to accompany Goethe to his new position at Weimar, he reveals that Goethe's predecessor at court had lost his post because the pressures of family life had restricted his creativity. The Duke of Saxe-Weimar is determined to have a bachelor as his poet. Goethe tells Knebel that he is no longer interested but, when he tells Friederike of his decision, she knows that she cannot allow him to make such a sacrifice and pretends to be indifferent to him. Goethe is shocked and tells Knebel that he will, after all, accept the Weimar appointment.
Eight years have passed and Friederike has remained single despite the attentions of the faithful Jakob. He comes to try to cheer her but she brushes him aside, telling him that any woman who has loved Goethe, cannot love anyone else. Jakob turns his attention to Friedericke’s sister, Salomea. Then Goethe returns, passing through the village with the Duke of Saxe-Weimar. He tells the Duke that this was the place where he spent the happiest hours of his life. Friederike is overjoyed to see him but Goethe finally realises the truth of the sacrifice that Friederike made for him. His duties mean that he must move on, this time for good. At least, through his writings, Goethe will now belong to the whole world, and thus also to Friederike.

Lehár, F. Excerpts from The Count of Luxemburg (1909).    ORTF soloists, Ch & Lyrique O/Adolphe Sibert.
Naxos 8.111010 [25:12]

Lehár, F. Excerpts from Giuditta (1934).    ORTF soloists, Ch & Lyrique O/Adolphe Sibert.
Naxos 8.111010 [13:39]