August Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf (2 November 1739 – 24 October 1799) was an Austrian composer, violinist and silvologist. 1739-1764 Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf was born in Laimgrube (in now Mariahilf), Vienna, Austria, as August Carl Ditters. His father was a military tailor, serving in the Austrian Imperial Army of Charles VI, in a number of German-speaking regiments. Having retired successfully from his martial obligations, he was provided with Royal Letters of Reference and a sinecure with the Imperial Theatre. In 1745, the six-year-old August Carl was introduced to the violin and his fathers moderate financial position allowed him a good general education at a Jesuit school and private tuition in music, violin, French and religion. After having left his first teacher, August Carl studied violin with J. Ziegler, who, a few years later, and through his influence, made August Carl be appointed as a member of the orchestra at the Benedictine church on the Freyung. By 1750, August Carl had obtained a post with the Viennese Schottenkircheorchestra. Prince Joseph of Saxe-Hildburghausen noticed him and on 1 March 1751 hired him for his court orchestra. At the princely demesne he studied violin with Francesco Trani who, impressed with the ability of his pupil in composition, commended him to Giuseppe Bonno who instructed August Carl in Fuxian counterpoint and free composition. After a few years the House of Saxe-Hildburghausen closed the activity of his orchestra, since he had to leave Vienna to assume the regency in Hildburghausen, and August Carl was hired by the Empress for her own orchestra through Count Durazzo, Theatre Director at the Imperial Court. In 1761 August Carl was made violinist for the Imperial Theatre, and in 1762 orchestra conductor of the same institution. It was during this period that he became acquainted with Gluck. In 1763 he traveled to Bologna with Gluck, to attend the performance of the opera Trionfo di Clelia: this Italian Tour was to leave the greatest impression on his musical opus, impression received both by Gluck and by the Italian music treatment and practice. In 1764 he traveled to Paris but the documentation about this experience is scarce and uncertain. In 1764, August Carl was back in Vienna and made the acquaintance of Joseph Haydn, becoming one of his closest friends. Ditters contract with Count Durazzo expired in the winter of 1764. 1764-1774 In 1764, Ditters assumed the post of Kapellmeister at the court of Ádám Patachich, Hungarian nobleman and Bishop of Nagyvárad (Oradea, Romania). The following year he was introduced to Philipp Gotthard von Schaffgotsch, the Prince-Bishop of Breslau, who wished to create a cultural center around his court at château Jánský vrch (Johannesberg) in Javorník, (today Czech Republic). In 1771 Ditters accepted the post of Hoffkomponist (court composer), and it was during his tenure at Johannesberg that most of his creative output was produced. Over the next twenty years, he composed symphonies, chamber music, and opere buffe. In 1773 the prince-bishop made Ditters Amtshauptmann of nearby Jeseník (Freiwaldau), one of several measures to help entice the cosmopolitan composer to remain at isolated Johannesberg. Since this new post required a noble title, Ditters was sent to Vienna and received a noble title von Dittersdorf. His surname became Ditters von Dittersdorf, but he is usually referred to simply as Dittersdorf. . Final years Dittersdorf was the music teacher of Johann Baptist Vanhal. About 1785, Haydn, Dittersdorf, Mozart and Vanhal played string quartets together. Haydn and Dittersdorf played the violins; Mozart, the viola; and Vanhal, the cello. The recorder of this event, the composer and tenor Michael Kelly, stated that they played well but the performance was not outstanding. The image of four of the great composers of the time all joined in common music-making remains however one of the classic images of the Classical era. In 1794, after twenty-four years at Johannesberg, von Dittersdorf experienced a serious clash with von Schaffgotsch and was expelled from the palace. The next year he was invited by Baron Ignaz von Stillfried to live at his spare castle Červená Lhota in southern Bohemia. His final decade was occupied with overseeing operatic productions and with compiling and editing his own music for publication. He died at the estate Nový Dvůr (Neuhof) at château Červená Lhota, Southern Bohemia. His grave lies in the town of Deštná. Three days before he died, he finished writing his autobiography. Style and Fame Ditters early work was a prefiguration of his serious output that was to come in later years—an almost Italianate style focused on melodic development without the overt flourishes characteristic of le style français. He was an important composer of the Classical era. After some early Italian opera buffa, he composed a number of German Singspiele, with Der Apotheker und der Doktor (1786, generally known today as Doktor und Apotheker) in particular being a tremendous success in his lifetime, playing in houses all over Europe. His symphonies (around 120 of them) include twelve based on Ovids Metamorphoses (six of which have survived to the present day). He also wrote oratorios, cantatas, concertos (including two for the double bass and one for the viola), chamber music, piano pieces and other works. His memoirs, Lebenbeschreibung, were published in Leipzig in 1801. His works, such as the double bass concerto, were published in Leipzig by the Friedrich Hofmeister Musikverlag. Works Concertos Grosses Concert per 11 strum. (1766) 18 concertos for Violin 3 concertos for 2 Violins 5 concertos for Viola 1 concerto for Cello 2 concertos for Contrabass 1 concerto for Viola and Contrabass 1 concerto for Piano 5 concertos for Oboe 1 concerto for Oboe dAmore 5 concertos for Harpsichord 2 concertos for Quartet 2 concertinos Concertos: Manuscripts Concerto for Oboe (in C major) (MS: Dittersdorf 32; now publ. Artaria) Concerto for Flute (in e minor) (MS: Dittersdorf 36; now publ. Artaria) Concerto for 2 Violins (in D major) (MS: mu6402.2532; now publ. Artaria) Concerto for 2 Violins (in C major) (MS: mu6402.2530; now publ. Artaria) Concertos: selection of best known concertos Concerto for Oboe in G major (Breitkopf & Härtel) Concerto for Oboe in C major (The Danish Royal Library) Concerto for Oboe in D major L.25b Concerto for Oboe in C major L.39 Concerto for Oboe in C major L.40a Concerto for Oboe in C major L.24 Concerto for Oboe in G major L.42 Concerto for Oboe dAmore in A major L.43b Concerto for Flute in e minor (The Danish Royal Library) Concerto for Cello in D major (The Danish Royal Library) Concerto for Contrabass (Double Bass Concerto) No.1 in E major (The Danish Royal Library) Concerto for Contrabass (Double Bass Concerto) No.2 in D major (The Danish Royal Library) Concerto for Contrabass (Double Bass Concerto) in E flat major (The Danish Royal Library) Concerto for Contrabass, Viola and Orchestra (The Danish Royal Library) Concerto for Viola and Orchestra in F major (The Danish Royal Library) Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in C major (The Danish Royal Library) Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in G major (The Danish Royal Library) Concerto for Harp (The Danish Royal Library) Concerto for Cembalo/Harpsichord in B major (The Danish Royal Library) Concertino for 2 Violins, 2 Violas, 2 Oboes, 2 Horns, Basson and Bass Symphonies Dittersdorf left about 120 symphonies with solid attribution. There are about another 90 symphonies which may be Dittersdorfs work, [according to the catalogue published by Geyer Helen, Torino 1985]. Most of the symphonies are preserved only in manuscripts. Many manuscripts are inscribed di Carlo de Dittersdorf or similar, however they are copies of now lost original scores. Sinfonia nel gusto di cinque nazioni (Paris, 1767) 6 Symphonies Op. 1 (Amsterdam, 1768?) 6 Symphonies Op. 4 (Paris, 1769?) The Periodical Ouverture (London, 1769) 3 Symphonies Op. 5 (Paris, 1769?) Symphonies Périodiques (Amsterdam, 1770–72) 3 Symphonies Op. 6 (Paris, 1773?) 4 Symphonies Op. 7 (Paris, 1773?) 3 Symphonies Op. 8 (Paris, 1773?) 6 Symphonies Op. 13 (Paris, 1781) 3 symphonies exprimant 3 métamorphoses dOvide: Les 4 âges du monde, La chûte de Phaéton, Actéon changé en cerf (Wien, 1785) Symphonies: Manuscripts Grande symphonie: Le carnaval ou La redoute (MS) Symphony (in A minor) Il deliro delli compositori, ossia Il gusto d’oggidi’ (MS: Ser.H Fasc.34 Nr.317; now publ. Artaria) Symphony (in A major) Nazionale nel gusto (MS: Ser.H. Fasc.39 Nr.76; now publ. Artaria) Symphony (in D major) Il combattimento delle passioni umane (MS: Ser.H Fasc.34 Nr.315; now publ. Artaria) Symphony (in F major) (Grave F7) (MS: Ser.H Fasc.34 Nr.312; now publ. Artaria) Symphony (in D minor) (Grave d1) (MS: R.M.21.a.13.(3.); now publ. Artaria) Symphony (in G minor) (Grave g1) (MS: S.m.15957; Ser.H Fasc.33 Nr.293; now publ. Artaria) Symphony (in E major) (Grave E1) (MS: IV-A-39 / A- 3498; now publ. Artaria) Symphony (in E flat major) (Grave Eb9) (MS: IV-A-59 / A-3515; now publ. Artaria) Symphony (in F major) (Grave F4) (MS: IV-A-38 / A-3497; now publ. Artaria) Symphony (in D major) (Grave D6) (MS: IV-A-66 / A-3522; now publ. Artaria) Symphonies: selection of best known symphonies Sinfonia Concertante in D major (Breitkopf & Härtel) Symphony in C major (Breitkopf & Härtel) Symphony in D major (Breitkopf & Härtel) Symphony in F major Symphony in D minor Symphony in G minor Symphony No. 1 after Ovid’s “Metamorphoses” (“ The Four Ages of the World”) Symphony No. 2 after Ovid’s “Metamorphoses” (“The Fall of Phaeton”) Symphony No. 3 in G after Ovid’s “Metamorphoses” (“The Metamorphosis of Acteon Into a Stag”) Symphony No. 4 in F after Ovid’s “Metamorphoses” (“The Rescue of Andromeda by Perseus”) Symphony No. 5 after Ovid’s “Metamorphoses” (The Transformation of the Lycian Peasants into Frogs) Symphony No. 6 after Ovid’s “Metamorphoses” Sinfonia Concerto for Viola, Contrabass and Orchestra in E flat major Chamber Music 15 Divertimenti (Il combattimento dellumane passioni is in this collection) 5 Cassazioni (2 published: Paris, 1768; the other 3 are MS) 4 Serenate for 2 Horns and Strings 35 Partite for Winds Instruments Petit Ballet en forme dune contredanse 24 dances for the Redoutensaal 6 String Quintets for 2 vl., vla., vcl., ctbs. (1782) Sonata da camera a 5 stromenti 6 String Quartets (1789) Quartet in E flat major 6 Sonatas for 2 vl. and vla. Op. 2 (Amsterdam, s. d.) 6 Trios for 2 vl. and b. op. 6 (Paris, 1771) Another 12 Trios (id.) 3 Trios for vl., vla. and vcl. Sonata for vl. 2 Duets for 2 vl. Duet for vla. and vcl. or ctbs. in E flat major 14 duets for vl. and bass 136 pieces for Piano Divertimento for two Violins and Violoncello in E flat major Notturno (in D) for 4 flutes Operas Amore in Musica (1767, Grosswardein) Arcifanfano, rè de’ Matti (1774 Johannisberg; 1776 Eszterházy) 25 000 Gulden oder im Dunkeln ist gut munkeln (1785, Vienna) Doktor und Apotheker (1786, Vienna) Betrug durch Aberglauben (1786, Vienna) Die Liebe im Narrenhaus (1787, Vienna) Hieronymus Knicker (1789, Vienna) Das rote Käppchen (1788, Vienna) Das Gespenst mit der Trommel (1794, Oels) Don Quixote der Zweyte (1795, Oels) Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor (1796, Oels) Oratorios Isacco figura del Redentore (Grosswardein, 1766) Davide penitente (Johannisberg, 1770) La Liberatrice del Popolo Giudaico nella Persia, o sia l’Esther (Wien, 1773) Giobbe (Wien, 1786) Cantatas Auf das... Geburtsfest seiner Majestät des Königs (1781) Auf Lichtmess 11 other cantatas Sacred Music Missa in C major Missa a 4 v. Missa gratiosa in C major Missa in D major 12 other masses Requiem Mass in c minor 11 offertories Antiphony with choir, orchestra and organ 8 litanies 12 ariae ex canticis Salomonis (Augsburg, 1795) 170 other sacred music works: arias, graduals, motettes et cetera. the aria Das Mädchen von Köln (from Ossian; Leipzig, 1795) 3 other arias for Soprano and orchestra Other Works Pastoral-Motette Discography Sinfonias on Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Nos 1-3, Failoni Orchestra, Hanspeter Gmür, 1995, Naxos Nx 8553368 Sinfonias on Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Nos 4-6, Failoni Orchestra, Hanspeter Gmür, 1995, Naxos Nx 8553369 Sinfonias. Grave d1, Grave F7, Grave g1, Failoni Orchestra, Uwe Grodd, 1996, Naxos Nx 8553974 Sinfonias. Grave a2, Grave D16, Grave A10, Failoni Orchestra, Uwe Grodd, 1996, Naxos Nx 8553975 Symphonies. C and D; Concertos. Flute and Double-Bass, Oradea Philharmonic, Miron Rațiu, Olympia OCD 405 Symphonies. C, D, and a; Serenade. Oradea Philharmonic, Miron Rațiu, Olympia OCD 425 Symphonies. e, E-flat, E, A, D, Oradea Philharmonic Orchestra, Romeo Rímbu, Olympia, OCD 426 String Quartets 1 & 3-5, Franz Schubert Quartet, 1989, cpo 999 038-2 String Quartets 2 & 6, String Quintets in C & G, Franz Schubert Quartet, 1992, cpo 999 122-2 Geistliche Musik (Requiem, Offertorium zu Ehren des Heiligen Johann von Nepomuk, Lauretanische Litanei), Regensburger Domspatzen, Consortium musicum München, Georg Ratzinger, 1996 + 1987, Freiburger Musikforum / ars musici AM 1158-2 Sinfonien in D, Es, A, Lisbon Metropolitan Orchestra, Alvaro Cassuto, 2006, Naxos Double Bass Concertos, Swedish Chamber Orchestra, Paul Goodwin, Chi-Chi Nwanoku, 2000, hyperion Sinfonies Exprimant (Les Metamoprphoses D’Ovide) Nos 1-6, Prague Chamber Orchestra, Bohumil Gregor, 1988 Supraphon
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