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Otto Nicolai
Person · male · Kingdom of Prussia · Königsberg · born 1810 · died 1849 · recording since 1926
German composer and conductor (1810-1849)
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Also known as Carl Otto Nicolai · Otto Nikolai · 奥托·尼古拉
Timeline
9 events▣ Album 6◦ Birth 1† Death 1★ Debut release 1
1810s
1840s
1920s
· Debut release
Debut release: Merry Wives of Windsor: Overture / Danse Macabre
First documented Single in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
1960s
1990s
2000s
2010s
· Album
Album: Schumann: Symphony No.3 Rhenish, Manfred Overture / Nicolai: Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor Overture
Album
source: musicbrainz
Biography
English biography723 words · 5 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1353969231
Biography
Carl Otto Ehrenfried Nicolai (9 June 1810 – 11 May 1849) was a German composer, conductor, and one of the founders of the Vienna Philharmonic. Nicolai is best known for his operatic version of Shakespeare's comedy The Merry Wives of Windsor as Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor. In addition to five operas, Nicolai composed lieder, works for orchestra, chorus, ensemble, and solo instruments.
Biography
Nicolai, a child prodigy, was born in Königsberg, Prussia. He received his first musical education from his father, Carl Ernst Daniel Nicolai, who was also a composer and musical director. During his childhood his parents divorced, and while still a youth, early in June 1826, Nicolai ran away from his parents' "loveless" home, taking refuge in Stargard with a senior legal official called August Adler who treated the musical prodigy like a son and, when Nicolai was seventeen, sent him to Berlin to study with Carl Friedrich Zelter.
After initial successes in Germany, including his first symphony (1831) and public concerts, he became musician to the Prussian embassy in Rome. When Verdi declined the libretto of Il proscritto by the proprietors of La Scala in Milan, it was offered instead to Nicolai. Later, Nicolai refused a libretto by the same author, and it went to Verdi, whose Nabucco was his first early success. All of Nicolai's operas were originally written in Italian, the sole exception being his last and best known opera, The Merry Wives of Windsor, written in German. At one time he was even more popular in Italy than Verdi.
During the early 1840s, Nicolai established himself as a major figure in the concert life of Vienna. In 1844 he was offered the position, vacated by Felix Mendelssohn, of Kapellmeister at the Berlin Cathedral; but he did not reestablish himself in Berlin until the last year of his life.
On 11 May 1849, two months after the premiere of The Merry Wives of Windsor, and only two days after his appointment as Hofkapellmeister at the Berlin Staatsoper, he collapsed and died from a stroke. On the same day of his death, he was elected a member of the Royal Prussian Academy of Arts.
Nicolai was portrayed by Hans Nielsen in the 1940 film Falstaff in Vienna.
Other
Six four-part unaccompanied lieder, Op. 6
Variazioni concertanti su motivi favoriti dell'opera La sonnambula di Bellini, Op. 26, for soprano, horn and piano (or cello or clarinet) (republished in 2000 by edition mf)
Ecclesiastical Festival Overture on the chorale "Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott", Op. 31
Pater noster, Op. 33, for two mixed choirs (SATB/SATB) a cappella with soloists (SATB/SATB). Published by Schott Music in 1999.
Der dritte Psalm (Psalm 3) for alto solo. (Manuscript at Library of Congress.)
Six sonatas for two horns: from the Handel Knot-Farquharson Cousins ms (re(?)published by Edition Kunzelmann in 1977.)
Mass in D major (1832/1845). (Recorded on the label Koch Schwann in 1981, subsequently reissued on compact disc. Published by Augsburg : A. Böhm in 1986.)
Te Deum (1832); Psalm 97, "Der Herr ist König"; Psalm 31, "Herr, auf Dich traue ich"; "Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe" (psalm and liturgical settings recorded also on Koch Schwann. Te Deum was also recorded on Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft LPM 39,170 in 1966.) Psalms 31 & 97 published by Bote & Bock of Berlin in 1977.
Two symphonies: No. 0 (1831) and No. 1 in D (1835, rev. 1845)
Weihnachtsouverture (Christmas overture) (1833); for orchestra, organ and mixed choir, based on the choral “Von Himmel hoch, da komm’ ich her”.
Concertino for Trumpet and Orchestra in Eb major (1835)
Songs and duets
Wenn sanft des Abends, Op. 2a
Der Schäfer im Mai / Männersinn, Op. 3
Abschied, Op. 13
Auf ewig dein, Op. 14
Wie der Tag mir schleicht / Willkommen du Gottes Sonne / Die Schwalbe, Op. 15
Lebewohl / An die Entfernte / Randino / Das treue Mädchen, Op. 16
Schlafendes Herzenssöhnchen, Op. 19
Rastlose Liebe, Op. 23
Il duolo d'amore / Se tranquillo a te d'accanto / Il desiderio al lido, Op. 24
Die Träne, Op. 30
Die Beruhigung / Der getreue Bub / Stürm, stürm, du Winterwind, Op. 34
Der Kuckuck / Flohjammer / Du bist zu klein, mein Hänselein, Op. 35
Herbstlied, Op. 37
Works for piano
Six danses brillantes
Rondo capriccioso
Sonata in D minor, Op. 27
Mondwalzer
Etude Adieu à Liszt, Op. 28
3 Etudes, Op. 40
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 35 | 92.8th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 10 | 82.3th |
| Studio albums | 6 | 86.1th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 9 | 85.5th |
| Recording span (years) | -77 | 5.5th |
| Genres | 6 | 91th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (10 release groups · 6 studio albums)
Albums · 6
Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor - Auszüge
1964 · studio album
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Tracklist · 9 tracks · 58:56
A1Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Ouvertüre8:18A2Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: „Nein, das ist wirklich doch zu keck“ (Duett Frau Fluth, Frau Reich)8:41A3Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: „Nun eilt herbei, Witz, heitre Laune“ … „Verführer! Warum“ (Rezitativ und Arie der Frau Fluth)5:57A4Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: „Als Büblein klein“ (Lied des Falstaff mit Chor)5:04B1Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: „Gott grüß euch, Sir“ … „In einem Waschkorb?“ (Rezitativ und Duett Fluth, Falstaff)12:56B2Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: „Horch, die Lerche singt am Hain!“ (Romanze des Fenton)5:35B3Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: „Fenton!“ … „Mein Mädchen“ (Duettino Anna, Fenton)5:46B4Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: „O süßer Mond“ (Chor)4:14B5Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: „So hat denn der Schwank“ (Terzettino/Finale, ganzes Ensemble und Chor)2:25Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor
1993 · studio album
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Tracklist · 33 tracks · 2:22:22
Disc 11Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Ouvertüre8:322Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Akt I. Dialog: „Unsere Geschichte“0:363Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Akt I. Nr. 1 „Nein, das ist wirklich doch zu keck“9:164Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Akt I. Dialog: „Die Frauen überlegten“1:215Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Akt I. Nr. 2 „So geht indes hinein“6:576Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Akt I. Dialog: „Die Damen Fluth und Reich“0:427Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Akt I. Nr. 3 „Nun eilt herbei, Witz, heitre Laune“6:528Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Akt I. Dialog: „Es juckt mir in den Fingern“0:229Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Akt I. Nr. 4 „So hab ich Dich errungen“18:1010Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Akt II. Dialog: „Da hatten die Frauen“2:0511Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Akt II. Nr. 5 „Als Büblein klein“4:0812Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Akt II. Dialog: „Am nächsten Morgen“0:1913Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Akt II. Nr. 6 „Gott grüß Euch, Sir“11:11Disc 21Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Akt II. Dialog: „Im Garten des Herrn Reich“0:322Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Akt II. Nr. 7a „Dies ist die Stunde“3:333Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Akt II. Nr. 7b „Horch, die Lerche singt im Hain“5:044Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Akt II. Nr. 7c „Fenton! Mein Mädchen“5:325Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Akt II. Nr. 7d „Bestürmen denn die läst’gen Freier“3:116Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Akt II. Dialog: „Zur gleichen Stunde“1:397Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Akt II. Nr. 8 „So, jetzt hätt ich ihn gefangen“7:348Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Akt II. Nr. 9 „Wer klopft? Macht auf, Herr Fluth“6:109Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Akt III. Dialog: „Falstaff lief zurück“0:4410Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Akt III. Nr. 10 „Vom Jäger Herne die Mär ist alt“2:4711Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Akt III. Dialog: „Frau Reich wünschte sich“0:3112Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Akt III. Nr. 11 „Wohl denn, gefaßt ist der Entschluß“7:5213Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Akt III. Dialog: „Kurz vor Mitternacht“0:1214Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Akt III. Nr. 12 „O süßer Mond“4:4215Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Akt III. Nr. 13 „Die Glocke schlug schon Mitternacht“5:4216Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Akt III. Nr. 14 „Ihr Elfen, weiß und rot und grau“6:4917Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Akt III. Nr. 15 „Mücken, Wespen, Fliegenchor“2:4718Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Akt III. Nr. 16 „Er gesteht noch immer nicht“2:5619Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Akt III. Dialog: „Nun, Herr Ritter“0:4620Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Akt III. Nr. 17 „So hat denn der Schwank“2:48Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor
1997 · studio album
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Tracklist · 22 tracks · 2:00:02
Disc 11Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Ouvertüre8:212Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Akt I. „Nein das ist wirklich doch zu keck!“7:563Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Akt I. „So geht indes hinein“5:224Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Akt I. „Nun eilt herbei, Witz, heitre Laune“14:005Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Akt I. „Herein, herein! Kommt all herein“9:286Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Akt II. „Als Büblein klein an der Mutter Brust“4:197Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Akt II. „Gott grüß Euch, Sir“5:598Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Akt II. „In einem Waschkorb?“6:259Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Akt II. „Dies ist die Stunde, wo sie oft im Garten promeniert“3:1010Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Akt II. „Horch die Lerche singt im Hain“2:3111Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Akt II. „Fenton! Mein Mädchen!“5:3412Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Akt II. „Bestürmen denn die läst’gen Freier“2:49Disc 21Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Akt II. „So jetzt hätt ich ihn gefangen“7:132Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Akt II. „Macht auf, Herr Fluth, wir sind’s, die Ihr bestellt!“6:083Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Akt III. „Wohl denn, gefaßt ist der Entschluß“7:294Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Akt III. „O süsser Mond“3:585Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Akt III. „Die Glocke schlug schon Mitternacht“5:226Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Akt III. „Ihr Elfen, weiß und rot und grau“1:167Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Akt III. „Die Menschheit schläft“5:358Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Akt III. „Mücken, Wespen, Fliegenchor“2:039Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Akt III. „Fasst ihn, Geister, nach der Reih“2:4910Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Akt III. „So hat denn der Schwank“2:15Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor / The merry Wives of Windsor
1998 · studio album
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Tracklist · 24 tracks · 2:15:42
Disc 11Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Overture7:392Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Act 1 Part I: Nein, das ist wirklich doch zu keck9:133Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Act 1 So geht indes hinein6:474Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Act 1 Nun eilt herbei, Witz6:515Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Act 1 So hab' ich dich errungen18:276Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Act 2 Hé, Kellner!1:107Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Act 2 Als Büblein klein an der Mutter Brust4:118Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Act 2 Gott grüß Euch, Sir!5:339Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Act 2 In einen Wäschkorb?5:21Disc 21Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Act 2 Dies ist die Stunde3:492Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Act 2 Horch, die Lerche singt im Hain5:443Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Act 2 Fenton! Mein Mädchen! Doch, du hast geweint?5:354Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Act 2 Bestürmen denn die läst'gen Freier3:185Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Act 2 Um Gottes Willen, Frau Gevatterin8:146Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Act 2 Wer klopft? Mach auf, Herr Fluth6:177Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Act 3 Und an dich, Frau0:208Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Act 3 Vom Jäger Herne die Mähr ist alt3:139Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Act 3 Falstaff soll auf unsere Einladung8:2910Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Act 3 O süßer Mond3:4911Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Act 3 Die Glocke schlug schon um Mitternacht6:0912Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Act 3 Ihr Elfen, weiss und rot und grau7:0113Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Act 3 Mücken, Wespen, Fliegenchor2:1814Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Act 3 Er gesteht noch immer nicht3:2615Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Act 3 So hat denn der Schwank der fröhlichen Nacht2:482009 · studio album
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Tracklist · 21 tracks · 2:28:25
Disc 11Il templario: Nr. 0. Sinfonia7:572Il templario, Akt 1: I. Bild: Nr. 1. Coro d’Introduzione “Delle trombe il suono altero”3:043Il templario, Akt 1: I. Bild: Nr. 2. Cavatina: “Sia meco avverso il fato” (Vilfredo)4:314Il templario, Akt 1: I. Bild: Nr. 3. Scena ed Inno d’Incoronazione “La man che debbe cingerti” (Cedrico)2:595Il templario, Akt 1: I. Bild: Nr. 4. Stretta d’Introduzione “Fine al torneo” (Cedrico, Vilfredo)5:166Il templario, Akt 1: I. Bild: Nr. 5. Cavatina: “Dell’ orientale la traccia” (Briano)12:037Il templario, Akt 1: II. Bild: Nr. 6. Coro di Donne “Del cielo britanno Rovena”3:058Il templario, Akt 1: II. Bild: Romanza: Nr. 7. Romanza “Cessate, amiche l’amor vostro bramo” (Rovena)5:249Il templario, Akt 1: II. Bild: Nr. 8. Scena e Cavatina “Aita, aita! Salvaci bella gentil britanna” (Rebecca)11:1510Il templario, Akt 1: II. Nr. 9. Finale: a: Coro “Qui sostiam, la meta e questa”4:1011Il templario, Akt 1: II. Nr. 9. Finale: b: Scena e Pezzo concertato “Te Rebecca il cavaliero qual sua schiava” (Cedrico, Rebecca)4:5212Il templario, Akt 1: II. Nr. 9. Finale: c: Stretta “Di dannata infida gente” (Briano, Vilfredo)4:50Disc 21Il templario, Akt 2: I. Bild: Nr. 10. Preludio2:572Il templario, Akt 2: I. Bild: Nr. 10a. Recitativo e Romanza “Il pianto, il mio dolor” (Rebecca)8:183Il templario, Akt 2: I. Bild: Nr. 11. Scena e Duetto “Che dissi? ove son io?” (Rebecca, Briano)11:244Il templario, Akt 2: II. Bild: Nr. 12. Coro e Scena di Templari “Morte al leon vorace!”9:145Il templario, Akt 2: II. Bild: Nr. 13. Scena ed Aria “Chiuso e l’uscio fatal” (Briano)11:546Il templario, Akt 2: III. Bild: Nr. 14. Duetto e Terzetto “Desso mio figlio” (Vilfredo, Cedrico, Rovena)10:507Il templario, Akt 3: I. Bild: Nr. 15. Coro, Marcia funebre e Sestetto “Morte al leon vorace!” (Templari, Chorus)13:498Il templario, Akt 3: I. Bild: Nr. 16. Preghiera “Signor de’ padri miei” (Rebecca)2:429Il templario, Akt 3: I. Bild: Nr. 17. Scena e Duettino finale “Vittoria! Qual grida? Chi vinse?” (Rebecca, Vilfredo)7:512016 · studio album
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Tracklist · 7 tracks · 48:50
1Symphony No.3 Rhenish: I. Lebhalt8:132Symphony No.3 Rhenish: II. Scherzo - Sehr Mässig5:383Symphony No.3 Rhenish: III. Nicht Schnell5:114Symphony No.3 Rhenish: IV. Feierlich4:445Symphony No.3 Rhenish: V. Lebhalt5:386Ouverture "Manfred", op.11511:267Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor Overture8:00
Single · 1
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1926 | Merry Wives of Windsor: Overture / Danse MacabreSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks1Merry Wives of Windsor: Overture 2Danse Macabre | 1926 |
Album · 3
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Messe in D / Te DeumSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 13 tracks · 52:131Messe in D: I. Kyrie5:32 2Messe in D: II. Gloria7:08 3Messe in D: III. Credo7:37 4Messe in D: IV. Sanctus1:49 5Messe in D: V. Benedictus4:43 6Messe in D: VI. Agnus Dei3:58 7Te Deum: I. Te Deum laudamus4:46 8Te Deum: II. Te gloriosus Apostolorum chorus4:44 9Te Deum: III. Te ergo quaesumus2:42 10Te Deum: IV. Aeterna fac cum sanctis tuis0:20 11Te Deum: V. Salvum fac populum tuum1:53 12Te Deum: VI. Et rege eos3:38 13Te Deum: VII. In te, Domine, speravi3:23 | Compilation | 1991 | |
| 1993 | Famous OverturesSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 4 tracks · 42:531Willhelm Tell12:06 2Die Lustigen Weiber von Windsor8:46 3Tannhäuser14:40 4Die Zauberflüte (The Magic Flute)7:21 | Compilation | 1993 | |
| 1998 | Orchestral Works, Vol. 1Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 5 tracks · 1:00:401Fantaisie avec Variations brillantes sur Norma, op. 2516:41 2Symphony WoO 99 in D major: I. Andante - Allegro17:21 3Symphony WoO 99 in D major: II. Adagio10:13 4Symphony WoO 99 in D major: III. Scherzo6:44 5Symphony WoO 99 in D major: IV. Finale. Allegro vivace9:41 | Compilation | 1998 |
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put Otto Nicolai head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 35 | 92.8th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 10 | 82.3th |
| Studio albums | 6 | 86.1th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 9 | 85.5th |
| Recording span (years) | -77 | 5.5th |
| Genres | 6 | 91th |
Awards & honours
Where this record comes from
portrait—Wikimedia Commons · Public domain · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Otto_Nicolai.jpgaliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/33a2c5c9-f3da-4400-bfa9-77de4ca57ac7discography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/33a2c5c9-f3da-4400-bfa9-77de4ca57ac7core—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q154602genre—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q154602seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_Nicolaibiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_Nicolai
Why this artist is in the database
- List of composers by name
Tier rule: historic figure (35 language versions, career ended)
Image: Josef Kriehuber · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata: Q154602 · MusicBrainz: 33a2c5c9-f3da-4400-bfa9-77de4ca57ac7
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