Les Contes D'Hoffmann
''The Tales of Hoffmann'' (French: ) is an by Jacques Offenbach. The French libretto was written by Jules Barbier, based on three short stories by E. T. A. Hoffmann, who is the protagonist of the story. It was Offenbach's final work; he died in October 1880, four months before the premiere. Composition history and sources Offenbach saw a play, , written by Barbier and Michel Carré and produced at the Odéon-Théâtre de l'Europe, Odéon Theatre in Paris in 1851. After returning from America in 1876, Offenbach learned that Barbier had adapted the play, which Hector Salomon had now set to music at the Opéra. Salomon handed the project to Offenbach. Work proceeded slowly, interrupted by the composition of profitable lighter works. Offenbach had a premonition, like Antonia, the heroine of Act 2, that he would die prior to its completion. Offenbach continued working on the opera throughout 1880, attending some rehearsals. On 5 October 1880, he died with the manuscript in his han ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Opera
Opera is a form of History of theatre#European theatre, Western theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by Singing, singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a libretto, librettist and incorporates a number of the performing arts, such as acting, Theatrical scenery, scenery, costume, and sometimes dance or ballet. The performance is typically given in an opera house, accompanied by an orchestra or smaller musical ensemble, which since the early 19th century has been led by a conducting, conductor. Although musical theatre is closely related to opera, the two are considered to be distinct from one another. Opera is a key part of Western culture#Music, Western classical music, and Italian tradition in particular. Originally understood as an sung-through, entirely sung piece, in contrast to a play with songs, opera has come to include :Opera genres, numerous ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Andrew Lamb (writer)
Andrew Martin Lamb (born 23 September 1942) is an English writer, music historian, lecturer and broadcaster, known for his expertise in light music and musical theatre. In addition to his musical work, Lamb maintained a full-time career as an actuary and investment manager. Biography Lamb was born in Oldham, Lancashire, the son of Harry Lamb, a schoolmaster, and his wife Winifred, ''née'' Emmott.Andrew Lamb at Contemporary Authors Online, Gale, 2002 (subscription required), accessed 22 March 2009 He was educated at Werneth Council School, Oldham, and [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Théâtre De La Renaissance
The name Théâtre de la Renaissance () has been used successively for three distinct Parisian theatre companies. The first two companies, which were short-lived enterprises in the 19th century, used the Salle Ventadour, now an office building on the Rue Méhul in the 2nd arrondissement of Paris, 2nd arrondissement. The current company was founded in 1873, and its much smaller theatre (pictured) was built that same year next to the Porte Saint-Martin at 20 boulevard Saint-Martin, in the 10th arrondissement of Paris, 10th arrondissement. Besides performances of musical theatre, Feydeau's farces were first produced in this theatre, and plays by Victorien Sardou. Among the actors who triumphed there were Sarah Bernhardt, Eleonora Duse, and Raimu, later Agnès Jaoui and Jean-Pierre Bacri. 1838–1841 The first company to be called Théâtre de la Renaissance opened its doors in 1838 under the sponsorship of Victor Hugo and Alexandre Dumas, père, who wanted to have a location for ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Jean-Christophe Keck
Jean-Christophe Keck is a French musicologist and conductor, born in Briançon, in 1964. He is particularly noted as a specialist in the works of Jacques Offenbach, and is the director of the complete critical edition in progress, named after both, Offenbach Edition Keck (OEK).Keck, Jean-Christophe. Biographical note in CD 442 8964, Association des Concerts Pasdeloup/Universal, 2007. Biography As a child he played tuba in the Briançon town bandUne tranche de Keck? ''Lyre'' #02 Lettre d'information des Musiciens du Louvre, Grenoble, March–April–May 2006, p6-7. and after early studies at the école de musique de Briançon he attended for two years the Conservatoire de Marseille before entering the Conservatoire national supérieur de musique de Paris. There he followed courses in conducting with Jean-Sébastien Bérault, musicology and composition with Pierre Villette, vocal studies (tenor) with Christiane Eda-Pierre, and piano. He was struck early by a passion for the musi ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Ringtheater Fire
The Ringtheater fire occurred on 8 December 1881, in the popular Vienna, Viennese Ringtheater, named after the road it was located at, the ''Schottenring''. Before the fire, the privately run theater, with capacity for an audience of about 1700, had been suffering from financial problems. Officially, 384 people perished in the fire, though there are higher estimates. For example, the Prussian-born author and encyclopedian Ludwig Julius Eisenberg (1858–1910) claims that up to one thousand could have been killed. Description During that evening, Jacques Offenbach's ''Les Contes d'Hoffmann'' was scheduled. When the visitors assumed their seats at 7 PM, behind the stage five display cases were illuminated with gas lamps. Because the Electro-pneumatic control, electro-pneumatic ignition control succeeded to light the gas only at the second attempt, the gas that had already flowed out exploded. The subsequent fire burned the fly system, and the fire quickly spread to the rest of th ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Joseph Hellmesberger Jr
Joseph Heinrich Georg Hellmesberger Jr. (9 April 1855 – 26 April 1907), also known as Pepi Hellmesberger, was an Austrian composer, violinist and Conducting, conductor. Biography Hellmesberger was born in Vienna and was the son of violinist and conductor Joseph Hellmesberger Sr. (1828–1893), who was his first teacher. Among his family of notable musicians were: grandfather, Georg Hellmesberger, Sr., Georg Hellmesberger Sr. (1800–1873); uncle, Georg Hellmesberger, Jr., Georg Hellmesberger Jr. (1830–1852); and brother, Ferdinand Hellmesberger (1863–1940). In 1875 Hellmesberger became a member of his father's Hellmesberger Quartet, while in 1891 he became leader. In 1878 Hellmesberger became solo violinist of the Vienna Court Chapel and professor at the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna, Vienna Conservatory. In 1890 he was the first ''hofkapellmeister'' at the Vienna Court Opera, and from 1901 to 1903 he was principal conductor of the Vienna Philharmonic. ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Franz Von Jauner
Franz Ritter von Jauner (14 November 1831, in Vienna – 23 February 1900, in Vienna) was an Austrian theatre director and opera intendant An intendant (; ; ) was, and sometimes still is, a public official, especially in France, Spain, Portugal, and Latin America. The intendancy system was a centralizing administrative system developed in France. In the War of the Spanish Success .... He was the subject of a 1940 biographical film '' Operetta'' in which he was played by Willi Forst. References * Austrian opera managers Conductors (music) from Austria-Hungary Austrian male conductors (music) General Directors of the Vienna State Opera Music directors of the Vienna State Opera Musicians from Vienna 1831 births 1900 deaths 19th-century Austrian conductors (music) 1900 suicides 19th-century Austrian male musicians {{Opera-bio-stub ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Ringtheater
The Ringtheater was a popular theater in Vienna, Austria. In 1881, it was destroyed in the Ringtheater fire that killed 384 people. The site now houses the federal headquarters of police for Vienna. Construction The Ringtheater was built between 1872 and 1874 by Heinrich von Förster, following plans by Emil Ritter. It opened on January 17, 1874, under the direction of Albin Swoboda, Sr. as an 'Opéra Comique', antithetical to the "seriousness" of the Vienna State Opera, then called the Court Opera ('Hofoper'). Lighting was by gas. However, in September 1878, the focus was shifted to spoken plays, German and Italian opera and variety, and the name was changed to the "Ringtheater". The Ringtheater fire Given that the footprint of the theatre was small—and the theatre was intended to hold an audience of 1700—the architect was forced to build high, but with disastrous consequences. On December 8, 1881, a fire broke out due to a problem with the gas lighting system, sho ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Albert Vizentini
Albert Vizentini (9 November 1841 – 21 October 1906) was a French violinist, composer, conductor and music writer. His main centre of activity was the French capital, but he also worked for ten years in Russia and toured in Britain and Ireland.Martin J. ''Nos artistes ; portraits et biographies.'' Paul Ollendorff, Paris, 1895. Life and career Vizentini came from an Italian musical family active in the theatre, one of whom had established himself at the Comédie-Italienne.Fétis F-J. ''Biographie universelle des musiciens.'' Vol II, 639-640. Paris, 1878. As a child he appeared in various children's roles at the Théâtre de l'Odéon, making his debut on 31 December 1847 in ''Le Dernier Banquet'', a revue by Camille Doucet. His father Augustin worked at the Vaudeville Theatre in Paris, then became stage manager in the last season of the Théâtre Lyrique. He undertook musical studies at the Conservatoire in Brussels, under Leonard and Fétis, achieving first prize in violin in ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Edmond Duvernoy
Charles-Henri Edmond Duvernoy (16 June 184412 January 1927) was a French pianist, baritone and vocal teacher, from a family of musicians.Fétis F-J. ''Biographie universelle des musiciens.'' Paris, 1878. Life and career Edmond Duvernoy was born in Paris. He was taught initially by his father, Charles-François Duvernoy, then studied at the Paris Conservatoire. A fine pianist, he began to teach, then studied singing, joining the Opéra-Comique company. He made his stage debut as Mercutio in the first performance at the Opéra-Comique of Gounod's ''Roméo et Juliette'' on 20 January 1873. He also sang Moralès in the premiere of Bizet's ''Carmen'' in 1875; Bizet composed three versions of the ''mélodrame'' in Act 1 for Duvernoy. According to Malherbe, he had a relatively soft voice, but he used it with good taste, and with sufficient talent to enable him to become later one of the most esteemed vocal teachers.Soubies A, Malherbe C. ''Histoire de l'opéra comique — La seconde ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Émile-Alexandre Taskin
Émile-Alexandre Taskin, born in Paris on 18 March 1853, and died there on 5 October 1897, was a French operatic baritone mainly active at the Paris Opéra-Comique. He was a descendant of the harpsichord maker Pascal Taskin (1723–1793). After singing in church choirs as a child, Taskin studied at the Conservatoire de Paris under Bussine and Ponchard. Having made his debut as a concert singer in 1875 in '' L'enfance du Christ'' by Berlioz, his stage debut was in September 1875 in Amiens, as Roland in ''Les mousquetaires de la reine'' by Halévy. After other engagements in the provinces Taskin was taken on at the Théâtre Lyrique (Salle Ventadour) in 1878, creating Lampourde in ''Le Capitaine Fracasse'' on 2 July 1878. He made his debut at the Opéra-Comique as Malipieri in Auber's '' Haydée'' on 9 February the same year, joining the company soon after. He was on-stage singing Lothario in Thomas' '' Mignon'' the night of the fire at the Salle Favart on 25 May 1887, and lat ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Boulevard Des Capucines
The Boulevard des Capucines () is a boulevard in Paris. It is one of the 'Grands Boulevards' in Paris, a chain of boulevards built through the former course of the Wall of Charles V and the Louis XIII Wall, which were destroyed on the orders of Louis XIV. The name comes from a beautiful convent of Capuchin nuns whose garden was on the south side of the boulevard prior to the French Revolution. The former name, ''Rue Basse-du-Rempart'' ("bottom-of-the-wall street" in French), suggests that, in the beginning, the street paralleled the city wall of Paris. Then, when the wall was destroyed, the street was widened and became a boulevard. Notable places At No. 1 stood the Neapolitan Café, famous for the writers, journalists, and actors who were its patrons, such as Catulle Mendès, Jean Moréas, Armand Silvestre, and Laurent Tailhade. No. 2, at the junction with the rue de la Chaussée-d'Antin, was the site of the former Hotel de Montmorency, then ''Théâtre du Vaudevi ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |