Elise Kratky Schmezer (1810–1856) was a German singer and teacher who composed one opera and many songs. Schmezer’s father Josef Kratky taught trumpet, trombone, and horn in

Graz Graz () is the capital of the Austrian Federal states of Austria, federal state of Styria and the List of cities and towns in Austria, second-largest city in Austria, after Vienna. On 1 January 2025, Graz had a population of 306,068 (343,461 inc ...

(today in Austria). She performed as a singer in Graz until her marriage to the tenor Friedrich Schmezer in the 1830s and his appointment as a singer/director in Braunschweig, Germany, in 1836. Elise Schmezer composed and taught voice after their move to Braunschweig. Several composers dedicated works to Elise Schmezer: *1844 – Piano Trio No. 4, Op. 31 by Alexander Fesca *1845 – Modern Salon Compositions for Piano, Op. 1 by

Louis Köhler Christian Louis Heinrich Köhler (5 September 1820 – 16 February 1886) was a German composer, conductor and piano teacher. Biography Köhler was born in Braunschweig. He studied piano in Vienna under Carl Maria von Bocklet, Simon Sechter and I ...

*1850 – Douze Études for Piano by Charles Mayer In 1853, Schmezer’s opera ''Otto der Schütz'' premiered in Brunswick at the Herzogliches Hoftheater. The libretto by Friedrich Schmezer was based on works by

Alexandre Dumas Alexandre Dumas (born Alexandre Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie, 24 July 1802 – 5 December 1870), also known as Alexandre Dumas , was a French novelist and playwright. His works have been translated into many languages and he is one of the mos ...

and

Johanna Kinkel Johanna Kinkel (8 July 1810 – 15 November 1858), born Maria Johanna Mockel, was a German composer, writer, pedagogue, and revolutionary. Biography Kinkel was born in Bonn to Catholic parents Marianna and Peter Joseph Mockel, a school teacher a ...

. Schmezer’s compositions were published by Bachmann & Nagel, Damkohler, Heinrichshofen, Carl Luckhardt, Mayer, and A. M. Schlesinger. They included:

Opera

*''Otto der Schütz'' (libretto by Friedrich Schmezer; orchestrated by Carl Zabel)

Vocal

*Opus 4, Lieder, Romanzen und Balladen für Tenor :No. 1. “Der Troubadour” (text by

Ferdinand Freiligrath Ferdinand Freiligrath (17 June 1810 – 18 March 1876) was a German poet, translator and liberal agitator, who is considered part of the Young Germany movement. Life Freiligrath was born in Detmold, Principality of Lippe. His father was a teacher ...

after

Sir Walter Scott Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet (15 August 1771 – 21 September 1832), was a Scottish novelist, poet and historian. Many of his works remain classics of European literature, European and Scottish literature, notably the novels ''Ivanhoe'' (18 ...

:No. 2. “Rothe Rose” (text by Ferdinand Freiligrath after

Robert Burns Robert Burns (25 January 1759 – 21 July 1796), also known familiarly as Rabbie Burns, was a Scottish poet and lyricist. He is widely regarded as the List of national poets, national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide. He is the be ...

) :No. 3. ”Thürmerlied” (text

Emanuel Geibel Emanuel von Geibel (17 October 18156 April 1884) was a German poet and playwright. Life Geibel was born at Lübeck, the son of a pastor. He was originally intended for his father's profession and studied at Bonn and Berlin, but his real interests ...

) *Opus 5, Lieder, Romanzen und Balladen fur Tenor :No. 1 “Valencia’s Rose” (text by Gustav Brandt) :No. 2 “Die Sultanin” (text by Ignaz Hub) :No. 3 "Der Zigeunerbube" (text by Emanuel Geibel) *Opus 6, Lieder, Romanzen und Balladen :No. 1 “Wenn ich in deine Augen seh’” (text by

Heinrich Heine Christian Johann Heinrich Heine (; ; born Harry Heine; 13 December 1797 – 17 February 1856) was an outstanding poet, writer, and literary criticism, literary critic of 19th-century German Romanticism. He is best known outside Germany for his ...

) :No. 2 “Ich möchte sterben wie der Schwan” (text by Emanuel Geibel) :No. 3 “Der Postillon” (text by

Otto Friedrich Gruppe __NOTOC__ Otto Friedrich Gruppe (15 April 1804 – 7 January 1876) was a German philosopher, scholar-poet and philologist who served as secretary of the Prussian Academy of Arts in Berlin. Poems by Gruppe were set to music by Johannes Brahms, ...

) *Opus 7, Lieder, Romanzen und Balladen :No. 1 “Schön Rohtraut” (text by

Eduard Mörike Eduard Friedrich Mörike (; 8 September 18044 June 1875) was a German Lutheran pastor who was also a Romantic poet and writer of novellas and novels. Many of his poems were set to music and became established folk songs, while others were used b ...

) :No. 2 “Das Geheimnis” (text by

Friedrich Schiller Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller (, short: ; 10 November 17599 May 1805) was a German playwright, poet, philosopher and historian. Schiller is considered by most Germans to be Germany's most important classical playwright. He was born i ...

) :No. 3 “Widmung” (text by

Friedrich Rückert Johann Michael Friedrich Rückert (16 May 1788 – 31 January 1866) was a German poet, translation, translator, and professor of Oriental languages. Biography Johann Michael Friedrich Rückert was born 16 May 1788 in Schweinfurt and was the e ...

) *Opus 8, Lieder :No. 1 “Neuer Frühling” (text by Heinrich Heine) :No. 2 “Der Gruss” (text by Anonymous) :No. 3 “Der Csikos” (text by Johan Nepomuk Vogl) :No. 4 “Tyrolerlied” (text by Zille) *Opus 10, Vier Lieder für hohe Stimme :No. 1 “Gondoliera (Keine Rosen ohne Dornen)” (text by Otto Inkermann as C. O. Sternau) :No. 2 “Auf Posten” (text by

Wilhelm Hauff Wilhelm Hauff (29 November 180218 November 1827) was a German poet and novelist. Early life Hauff was born in Stuttgart, the son of August Friedrich Hauff, a secretary in the Württemberg ministry of foreign affairs, and Hedwig Wilhelmine Elsa ...

) :No. 3 “Zigeunerlied aus dem Persischen” (text by

Georg Friedrich Daumer Georg Friedrich Daumer (5 March 1800 – 14 December 1875) was a German poet and philosopher. Life Daumer was educated at the gymnasium of his native city, at that time directed by the famous philosopher Hegel. In 1817 he entered the Unive ...

) :No. 4 “Gondoliera (Felice notte Marietta)” (text by Otto Inkermann as C. O. Sternau) *Opus 11, Berg und See, aus Amaranth (text by Oscar von Redwitz-Schmölz) *Opus 12, Jung Walther aus Amaranth (text by Oscar von Redwitz-Schmölz) *Opus 13, Die Verwandlung (text by Christian Levin Friedrich Christian Sander) *Opus 16, Vier Lieder :No. 4 “Leise zieht durch mein Gemüt” (text by Heinrich Heine) *Opus 17, Drei Lieder für Sopran oder Tenor mit Pianoforte :No. 1 “Der Ursprung der Harfe” :No. 2 “Du wundersüßes Kind” (text by Otto Indermann as C. O. Sternau) :No. 3 “Was treibt dich umher, in der Frühlingsnacht?” (text by Heinrich Heine) *Opus 18, Lieder mit englischem Texte von Robert Burns :No. 1 “Wärst du auf öder Haid allein” :No. 2 “Das Hochlandskind” :No. 3 “Die Birke von Aberfeldy” *Opus 19, Two Songs *Opus 20, Two Songs

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Schmezer, Elise Women singers from the Austrian Empire German women composers German opera composers 1810 births 1856 deaths Place of birth missing German singers