Danzi Der Berggeist

[Alan Howe]

Described as a 'romantic opera in two acts' (it dates from 1813):
http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/Franz-Danzi-1763-1826-Der-Berggeist-oder-Schicksal-und-Treue/hnum/3386176

[Alan Howe]

Sample tracks are now up at jpc. Proto-Weber, perhaps?

[edurban]

Interesting stuff.  Lots of Mozart, who, after all was only a few years Danzi's senior.  Points to Weber in his 'village life' mode rather than Weber in his full-out supernatural mode, although the excerpts only hint at the supernatural stuff (last 4 tracks?)  Lovely orchestration, with lots of great solos (ie. the clarinet in 3 and other winds throughout and even a nice solo part for Danzi's own instrument, the cello, later in the opera.)  Don't know much Danzi besides the e minor cello concerto recorded by Blees and released on Turnabout in my youth, but this seems intriguing.  Rather well sung, too, and apparently period instruments.   No. 4 suggests a model for later supernatural opera ballads for solo and chorus, like the one in Marschner's Vampyr.  Hmm.  I'll probably buy it.  Thanks, Alan.

David

[eschiss1]

I'm most familiar with Danzi's works for winds myself (4 wind quintets, piano and wind quintets and, i think, a concertante)- there is a string quartet of his recorded & uploaded to IMSLP (thanks again, Matesic!)

[Alan Howe]

Posted elsewhere by Peter Shott and moved here:

<<Slightly preceding our preferred period I suppose, but mention of the new Carus recording of Burgmuller got me browsing the Carus website where I noticed a forthcoming recording of Franz Danzi's opera Der Berggeist.

Should a sensible fellow add it to his order list? I've enjoyed the (little) Danzi I've heard - well crafted music though perhaps not sufficient to deprive me of sleep at night. Is this opera yet another German singspiel written in the early 19th century, or (dare I say it) something rather more substantial and musically interesting?>>