Emperors and Kings
Donald Macleod focuses on Dittersdorf's final years, when his music fell out of fashion and he fell into poverty.
He was a favourite of the Austrian Emperor and the King of Prussia, and performed in quartets with Mozart and Haydn, this week Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf.
Dittersdorf was doing very nicely for himself; honoured by the Pope and elevated to the aristocracy. He now composed a set of story-based symphonies which became hugely popular, including his Symphony in F major No 4, 'The Rescuing of Andromeda by Perseus'. His newly published set of six string quartets were also selling well and his opera, the Doctor and the Apothecary, became a box office hit. It was performed in Vienna for the Emperor and also for the new Prussian King in Berlin.
In his final years, Dittersdorf's music fell out of fashion and, following the death of his employer the Prince-Bishop of Breslau, he spent his final few years impoverished, forced to rely on the good will of Baron Ignaz von Stillfreid who housed him. A few days before Dittersdorf died in 1799, he dictated his colourful autobiography to his son.
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Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf
Sinfonia in A minor, The Delirium of the Composers, Grave a2 (pre.1779)
Orchestra: Failoni Orchestra. Conductor: Uwe Grodd. Performer: Uwe Grodd.- Naxos: 8553975.
- Naxos.
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Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf
Symphony [after Ovid's Metamorphoses] no. 4 in F major (Die Rettung der Andromed
Conductor: Adrian Shepherd. Orchestra: Cantilena..- CHANDOS : chan-8564/5.
- CHANDOS.
- 1.
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Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf
Doctor und Apotheker (Der Apotheker und der Doctor) - Singspiel
Performer: James Lockhart. Singer: Hildegard Uhrmacher. Performer: State Orchestra of the Rhine Philharmonic.- Bayer Records: BR100238.
- Bayer Records.
- 11.
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Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf
Quartet no. 5 in E flat major Krebs.195 for strings
Performer: Leipzig Gewandhaus String Quartet.- BERLIN CLASSICS : 0092612BC.
- BERLIN CLASSICS.
- 4.
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Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf
Giob - oratorio in 2 parts
Singer: Linda Perillo. Singer: J枚rg Waschinski. Performer: Das Kleine Konzert. Conductor: Hermann Max. Choir: Rheinische Kantorei. Singer: Markus Schafer. Singer: Ekkehard Abele. Singer: Beat Duddeck. Singer: Romelia Lichtenstein.- CPO: 9997902.
- CPO.
- 25.
Broadcasts
- Fri 18 Jul 2014 12:00大象传媒 Radio 3
- Fri 18 Jul 2014 18:30大象传媒 Radio 3
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