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The Merry Wives of Windsor
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The Merry Wives of Windsor

opera by Nicolai
Also known as: “Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor”
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The Merry Wives of Windsor is a comic opera by German composer Otto Nicolai, based on William Shakespeare's play of the same name. Nicolai, born in 1810, was a composer known for his comic operas, and The Merry Wives of Windsor remains one of his most popular works.1

The opera premiered in 1849 in Berlin. It is based on Shakespeare's play, which centers on the comic romantic misadventures of Falstaff and the two married women who cleverly trick him. The play itself is set in Windsor and depicts the everyday life of Shakespeare's time, differing from his other comedies that often feature imaginary settings. The opera captures the lighthearted and humorous nature of Shakespeare's original work.12

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4 Britannica Sources
  1. Otto Nicolai
  2. The Merry Wives of Windsor
  3. William Shakespeare - Romantic comedies
  4. Shakespeare and Opera - Opera seria and opera buffa

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