Friedrich von Flotow

Martha: No. 9

Martha oder Der Markt zu Richmond was composed in 1847 by Friedrich von Flotow (1812-1883) as a lyric-comic opera that became one of the most popular German stage works of the mid-19th century. Set in England during the reign of Queen Anne, the opera follows the noble Lady Harriet, who disguises herself as a servant girl named "Martha" to experience life among commoners at the Richmond fair, only to become entangled in unexpected romance and mistaken identity with the farmer Lyonel. Premiered on November 25, 1847, at the Kärntnertor Theatre in Vienna, Martha reflects the era's taste for pastoral charm, sentimental comedy, and tuneful simplicity, blending German Romantic opera with French opéra-comique influences. Though less frequently staged today than the major works of Verdi or Wagner, Martha remains an important historical favorite. One of its best-known moments is Lyonel's aria "The Last Rose of Summer," sung in Act II as an expression of longing and idealized love; Flotow famously inserted the melody of this Irish folk song into the opera, helping to secure its lasting popularity as a standalone concert piece. Instrumentation: 1+1(Picc).2.2.2: 4.2.3.1(Ophcld): Timp: Hp: Str (4.4.3.3.3 in set): Solo Sop. Reprint edition of the aria in the original key of F.