German composer Otto Nicolai wrote several successful operas during the 19th century. Still, today he’s mostly known for one piece, and he only enjoyed the success of his biggest hit for two months before he died at 38. On today’s show, we’ll take you to Shanghai to hear the overture from The Merry Wives of Windsor by Otto Nicolai.

Episode Playlist

Hour 1

Louise Farrenc: Etudes, Op. 26 Book 2 No. 22 Allegro molto
Joanne Polk, piano
Album: Louise Farrenc: Etudes & Variations for Solo Piano
Steinway & Sons 30133

Otto Nicolai: Overture to 'The Merry Wives of Windsor'
Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra | Liang Zhang, conductor
Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, Concert Hall, Symphony Hall, Shanghai, China

Judith Lang Zaimont: Reflective Rag
The Sylvan Trio
Album: Music for Flute, Cello, and Piano by Women Composers
Kickshaw Records 1002

Louise Farrenc: Piano Quintet in A minor, Op. 30
Eliot Heaton, violin | Hillary Herndon, viola | Max Geissler, cello | Justin McCullouch, bass | Esther Park, piano
Geneva Music Festival, Froelich Hall Gearan Center for the Performing Arts, Hobart & William Smith Colleges, Geneva, NY

Hour 2

Gabriel Faure: Barcarolle No. 1 in A minor, Op. 26
John Novacek, piano
Album: Last Kiss: Romantic piano music for love and passion
Four Winds 3016

Gustav Mahler: Piano Quartet in A minor: Movement 1
Susie Park, violin | Rebecca Young, viola | Brandon Vamos, cello | John Novacek, piano
Music in the Vineyards Festival, Silverado Vineyards, Napa, CA

William Grant Still: Suite for Violin and Piano: Movement 2
James Ehnes, violin | Andrew Armstrong, piano
Seattle Chamber Music Society, SCMS Center for Chamber Music, Seattle WA

Dmitri Shostakovich: Symphony No. 8 in C minor, Op. 65: Movement 1
Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra | Vladimir Jurowski, conductor
DEDKU, Konzerthaus, Berlin, Germany