Likes Likes:  0
Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: J.M. Kraus' Aeneas in Carthage Incidental Music

  1. Apr-08-2010, 12:41 #1
    Handel
    Handel is offline
    Senior Member Handel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Québec City, Québec
    Posts
    391
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default J.M. Kraus' Aeneas in Carthage Incidental Music

    After a long absence here, I thought it would be a good way to re-introduce myself...

    I am a Handel big fan but I became lately an evenly Haydn and classical period big fan.

    I discovered this jewel recently...

    First, a little bit of history.


    Joseph Martin Kraus 1756-1792

    Kraus, born in Miltenberg, in Franconia, studied both music and the law (parental wish). He left for Stockholm in 1778 to apply to for a position at the court of King Gustav III. After unsuccessful attempts, he was appointed vice-Kapellmeister of the Royal Swedish Opera and director of the Royal Academy of Music in 1781. Then, for 6 years, he traveled Europe, at the king expense, to learn about the Theatre. It is during this long journey he met Gluck and Haydn. He also attended the Handel Festival in 1785 in London. In 1787, he came back to Stockholm and became Kapellmeister of the Royal Swedish Opera. His protector, the king, was assasinated in 1792. The same year, Kraus died of tuberculosis.

    * * * * *


    Aeneas's Farewell to Dido in Carthago, 1676, Claude Lorrain

    * * * * *

    His opera, Aeneas i Cartago (Aeneas in Carthage), was originally composed in 1781 for the inauguration of the new opera house in Stockholm (it is a retelling of the Dido and Aeneas story but Kraus took some liberties). However the production was paused. During 10 years he worked on this immense opera (a prologue and 5 acts). It was only first performed in 1799.

    Patrick Gallois and the Sinfonia Finlandia Jyväskylä perform here all the incidental music from this opera. There is about 70 minutes of music with shows the length of the whole opera.

    I will present here a few excerpts.

    Act 1: Ouverture
    Act 3: March of the Numidians
    Act 5: Ballet
    Act 5: Chaconne

    Credits:


    Sinfonia Finlandia Jyväskylä / Patrick Gallois
    Naxos
    http://www.classicsonline.com/catalo...spx?pid=932962

    Reviews:

    http://www.musicweb-international.co...as_8570585.htm
    http://www.classicstoday.com/review.asp?ReviewNum=12613
    At first, I discovered the wonders of classical music through the marvels of its baroque period and especially those from Mr. Handel, which explain my forum nickname. About 10 years ago, my interest leaned over classical period and Herr Haydn's production. The music bus recently drove me to the early 1800s. Where will it end?
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  2. Apr-08-2010, 13:20 #2
    Boccherini
    Boccherini is offline
    Banned
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Posts
    250
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Interesting. I have a few Symphonies by him and didn't know he wrote an Opera(s). However, I think I've heard the March of the Numidians a few times in the past.
    Thanks for sharing. Have to add that one...
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  3. Apr-08-2010, 13:49 #3
    jurianbai
    jurianbai is offline
    Senior Member jurianbai's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Singapore
    Posts
    1,357
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Interesting, Kraus is underfame classical composer which I like to know more, I also fans of this period. Like usuall I interested to heard string quartets of Kraus.

    Welcome, but I warn you this community is very likely to drive you toward contemporary music.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  4. Apr-09-2010, 06:01 #4
    HarpsichordConcerto
    HarpsichordConcerto is offline
    Senior Member HarpsichordConcerto's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    25 Brook Street, Mayfair
    Posts
    3,516
    Post Thanks / Like
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    Interesting indeed.

    But what of the performance by the Sinfonia Finlandia Jyväskylä / Patrick Gallois? (On modern instruments, I presume)?
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  5. Apr-09-2010, 13:22 #5
    Handel
    Handel is offline
    Senior Member Handel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Québec City, Québec
    Posts
    391
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Yes modern instruments. I think it is a great performance (for an ensemble I never heard of). Sound engineering is good too.
    At first, I discovered the wonders of classical music through the marvels of its baroque period and especially those from Mr. Handel, which explain my forum nickname. About 10 years ago, my interest leaned over classical period and Herr Haydn's production. The music bus recently drove me to the early 1800s. Where will it end?
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  6. Sep-28-2010, 06:45 #6
    Weston
    Weston is offline
    Senior Member Weston's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Tennessee
    Posts
    6,982
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Sorry for the bit of necroposting, but this thread is the most appropriate.

    I have the album of Kraus symphonies below and listened to it today. I find it amazing. His style seems to traverse everything from Bach to Beethoven. His Symphony in C minor VB 142 begins with fugue-like passage that sounds right out of The Art of the Fugue and then moves quickly through various classic period styles. It's quite a refreshing roller coaster ride and sometimes seems as witty as Haydn. I wonder why Kraus has so often been overlooked.

    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  7. Oct-27-2010, 00:10 #7
    BrianPK
    BrianPK is offline
    Newbies
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Posts
    7
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    I only became aware of him last year.I've been buying Naxos cds for the last 20 years but only ventured into Kraus a year ago.I've all of his Naxos recordings with the exception of the "Aeneas" opera.I think his symphonies are a revelation and the Naxos recordings(modern instruments which I much prefer) are top quality.Remarkably,his symphonies sound (to my ears, at least) much more modern than Mozart or Haydn.I read somewhere that he was (is) known as the Swedish Mozart... probably more to do with his birth (1756) and death(1792) than the quality of his music but not being an expert I can't comment on this except to say that I think his music is wonderfuly refreshing. I believe that Mozart had a very high opinion of him. I must look out for the "Aeneas" opera.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Similar Threads

  1. New way of getting classical music
    By Nashvillebill in forum Community Forum
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: Aug-31-2018, 06:21
  2. Tonal music and cliche
    By JANK in forum Classical Music Discussion
    Replies: 52
    Last Post: Dec-29-2017, 15:27
  3. How do you decide what to listen to?
    By Weston in forum Community Forum
    Replies: 64
    Last Post: Jan-27-2011, 09:10
  4. Towards a definition of music
    By utmusic in forum Classical Music Discussion
    Replies: 37
    Last Post: Jun-13-2007, 15:44

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Forum Rules