Lortzing's Der Waffenschmied is a lighthearted and superbly crafted opera that bridges Mozart's Singspiele and early Wagner. Despite it's relative popularity, there are surprisingly few complete recordings of it around. How lovely to change that with this new recording from the very place for which the opera was written and where it was premiered in 1846: Vienna's Theater an der Wien - and a wonderful cast that includes the stalwart Günther Groissböck and the supremely promising Miriam Kutrowatz to boot!