Category: German opera

135. Croesus (Keiser)

DER HOCHMÜTIGE, GESTÜRZTE UND WIEDER ERHABENE CROESUS Composer: Reinhard KeiserLibretto: Lukas von Bostel, after Nicolò Minato’s 1678 operaFirst performed: Theater am Gänsemarkt, Hamburg, 1711.Revised: Theater am Gänsemarkt, Hamburg, 6 December 1730 Reinhard Keiser was once hailed as “the greatest opera composer in the world” (Johann Mattheson, writing his obituary in 1740). Thirty years later, one … Continue reading 135. Croesus (Keiser) →

73. Le nozze di Figaro [The Marriage of Figaro] (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)

LE NOZZE DI FIGARO (THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO) Opera comica in 4 acts Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Libretto: Lorenzo da Ponte, after Beaumarchais First performed: Burgtheater, Vienna, 1 May 1786, conducted by Mozart (Parts of this post come from an article published in The Canberra Times, 10 August 2016.) PLOT Wedding preparations can be hell.  For audiences, however, … Continue reading 73. Le nozze di Figaro [The Marriage of Figaro] (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart) →

72. Capriccio (Richard Strauss)

CAPRICCIO “A Conversation Piece for Music” in 1 act Composer: Richard Strauss Libretto: Clemens Krauss and Richard Strauss First performed: Nationaltheater München, Munich, Germany, 28 October 1942, conducted by Clemens Krauss We continue our series on the world's dullest operas with Strauss's last offering, an artistic debate performed in the middle of WWII. Uncyclopedia gives this description: … Continue reading 72. Capriccio (Richard Strauss) →

67. Der Schauspieldirektor (W.A. Mozart)

DER SCHAUSPIELDIREKTOR Komische Operette in 1 act - KV 486 Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Libretto: Gottlieb Stephanie the Younger First performed: Schönnbrunn Palace, Vienna, 7 February 1786; Kärntnertor Theater, Vienna, 11 February 1786 Dossier An imperial command is hard to refuse.  Mozart, halfway through a little number called The Marriage of Figaro, was ordered to compose after-dinner … Continue reading 67. Der Schauspieldirektor (W.A. Mozart) →