''Medea'' is a

melodrama A melodrama is a Drama, dramatic work in which plot, typically sensationalized for a strong emotional appeal, takes precedence over detailed characterization. Melodrama is "an exaggerated version of drama". Melodramas typically concentrate on ...

in one act with five scenes by Bohemian composer Georg Benda with a German libretto by Friedrich Wilhelm Gotter. The work was first performed in

Leipzig Leipzig (, ; ; Upper Saxon: ; ) is the most populous city in the States of Germany, German state of Saxony. The city has a population of 628,718 inhabitants as of 2023. It is the List of cities in Germany by population, eighth-largest city in Ge ...

at the Theater am Rannstädtertor on 1 May 1775.

Historical impact and musical analysis

''Medea'' is considered to be one of Benda's best works and the composition had a significant impact on other composers of the late 18th century by popularizing the emerging genre of

. Among those inspired by the work are Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach and

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791) was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. Despite his short life, his rapid pace of composition and proficiency from an early age ...

. Mozart in a letter to his father dated November 12, 1778 wrote, "The piece I saw was Benda’s ''Medea''. He has composed another one, '' Ariadne auf Naxos'', and both are really excellent. You know that of all the Lutheran Kapellmeisters Benda has always been my favorite, and I like those two works of his so much that I carry them about with me." Although Mozart never wrote a full melodrama, he did create a miniature melodrama within his unfinished operetta, '' Zaide'' (1780), that is highly reminiscent of the style of Benda's ''Medea''. Mozart’s imagination was much fired by Benda’s new vehicle for dramatic expression, and in 1778 he wrote to his father with the greatest enthusiasm about a project for composing a duodrama on the model of Benda’s ''Ariadne auf Naxos'' and ''Medea'', both of which he considered excellent.

Roles

Discography

*''Medea (Melodrama)'' with conductor Christian Benda and the Prague Chamber Orchestra. Cast includes: Brigitte Quadlbauer, Hertha Schell, and Peter Uray. Released on the Naxos label in 1996.BENDA, J.A.: Medea - 8.553346
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References

External links

Synopsis in German
{{Authority control 1775 operas German-language operas Operas Operas based on Medea (Euripides play) Operas by Georg Benda Melodramas