diumenge, 17 d’abril del 2022

ELSNER, Jozef (1769-1854) - Passio Domini Nostri Jesu Christi (1837)

Carl Bloch (1834-1890) - Christ with Mocking Soldier


Jozef Elsner (1769-1854) - Passio Domini Nostri Jesu Christi, Op.65 (1837)
Performers: Agniеszkа Kurowskа (soprano); Miroslаwа Rеzler (alto); Lеszek Swidzinski (tenor); Jozеf Frаkstеin (bass); Wаrsаw Symphony Orchestra & Chamber Choir; Jаcеk Kаspszyk (conductor)

---


Polish composer and teacher of German origin. As a schoolboy he sang in the church choir of Grodków. His interest in music developed while he was a pupil at the Dominican school, then at the Jesuit Gymnasium in Breslau (now Wrocław) (1781-88), where he sang the solo soprano part in Graun’s Der Tod Jesu. He also sang in the opera chorus, played the violin in chamber music and began to compose, chiefly religious music (now lost). At the University of Breslau he read theology and medicine; in 1789 he went to Vienna to study medicine, but gave it up for music. In 1791-92 he was violinist and conductor of the opera orchestra in Brno and from 1792 to 1799 in Lemberg (now L'viv), where he conducted the theatre orchestra, composed symphonies and chamber music and began to work on operas; at first he used German librettos, but after 1796 turned to Polish texts, especially in collaboration with Wojciech Bogusławski, organizer of the Polish National Theatre. He also arranged weekly concerts for a musical society. In 1799 Elsner settled permanently in Warsaw, where for 25 years he was in charge of the Opera, enriching its repertory with his own works and training many eminent singers. All his life he was very active as a teacher; he founded and organized several music schools on different levels and was the author of a number of works and textbooks. From 1817 to 1821 he taught at the School of Elementary Music and Art, from 1821 to 1826 at the Conservatory and from 1826 to 1831 at the Main School of Music, where he was professor of composition and rector. He taught many composers, above all Chopin. From 1802 until 1806 Elsner ran a music engraving shop in Warsaw, from which he issued several publications, notably 24 numbers of the periodical Wybór pięknych dzieł muzycznych i pieśni polskich (‘Selected beauties of music and Polish songs’). In 1805 he was nominated a member of the Warsaw Society of Friends of Science and in 1805-06, together with E.T.A. Hoffmann, he ran the music club, where Beethoven’s symphonies were among the works performed. He also founded the Society of the Friends of Religious and National Music (1814). From 1811 to 1819 he was correspondent of the Allgemeine musikalische Zeitung, and from 1802 to 1825 contributed many reviews and articles to the Polish press. He was an honorary member of the music society of the Leipzig University Paulinerkirche as well as of many music societies in Poland, and was also a freemason. For his services to music he was awarded the Order of St Stanisław in 1823, and three commemorative medals were struck in his honour. Elsner was twice married, the second time to one of his pupils, Karolina Drozdowska (1784-1852), a leading soprano at the Warsaw Opera.

Cap comentari:

Publica un comentari a l'entrada