František Škroup
František Škroup (also: Franz Škroup or Skraup; born June 3, 1801 in Osice in Hradec Kralove / Hradec Králové, † February 7, 1862 in Rotterdam), was a Czech composer and conductor.
Life
The son of the cantor Josef Dominik Škroup was trained musically by his father. At eight, first appeared publicly as a flutist. After attending high school in Hradec Kralove, he studied law from 1819 in Prague. The study he financed through music lessons and auxiliary works at the Estates Theatre. There, he met the composer Jan Alois Jelen know.
Škroup became increasingly involved in amateur theater and founded in 1823 with other patriots, the first Czech opera association aufführte first time in Prague Czech operas. On December 23, 1823 popular opera The Swiss family of the Austrian composer Joseph Weigl was played at the Estates Theatre, which had translated into Czech philosophy student and poet Simeon Karel Machacek. The opera was performed by amateur actors and animated Škroup to compose the first Czech opera Dráteník.
The successful premiere took place at the Estates Theatre on February 2, 1826. Inspired by this success, Škroup wrote the music for the operas Oldrich a Bozena and Libušín sňatek. However, these works have been acclaimed by not so good. 1827 Škroup was appointed assistant conductor of the Estates Theatre, where it ten years later took over the musical direction. This function he carried out another twenty years. Immortality gave him the music for the comedy by Josef Tyl Kajetán Fidlovačka aneb žádný hněv a Zadná rvačka. In their first performance on 21 December 1834, the first time heard the song of the blind beggar Mares Kde domov můj, which was later chosen for the Czech national anthem.
František Škroup was an outstanding conductor. He directed numerous classical operas and composed preludes and background music to theater and comedies. From 1836 to 1845 he also worked as a rain Chori at the synagogue. After thirty years of service, he was discharged in 1857 and retired because his works were not very successful by the theater management. In addition, there were clashes with former director Stögr. Since Škroup in Prague was no longer hiring, it was started in 1860 in the place of Kapellmeister at the Deutsche Oper in Rotterdam. Two years later he died and was buried in the Protestant cemetery there.
Škroup was married twice. His son Alfred was conductor and music publisher, his daughter Bozena was a music teacher. Oldrich son died at the age of 11 years.
His brother Jan Nepomuk Škroup was also a composer.
Works
František Škroup also appeared as a singer on the vocal ranges tenor and baritone. As a leading figure at the Estates Theatre, he had earned at the premiere of works by famous composers such as Richard Wagner. Most of his written in Czech and German works are operas, although they reached a good level, but have not known about the boundary of the land. Škroup edited from 1837 to 1839, the magazine " Venec ze zpěvů vlastenských uvitý a obětovaný dívkám vlastenským " ( wreath patriotic songs made and dedicated patriotic girls).
- The Singspiel Dráteník of 1825 was premiered on February 2, 1826. It was considered as the beginning of Czech opera. The libretto was written by Josef Krasoslav Chmelensky. Škroup sang the lead role here.
- The premiere of the opera Oldrich a Bozena to a libretto by Josef Krasoslav Chmelensky was in 1828; revived in 1847. The premiere of the German version Uldarich and Bozena was 1833.
- The Premiere of The Prince and the snake was in 1829, the Czech version Princ had a neb Amor river made Amazonkami was first performed in 1835.
- The Dragon's Den, Premiere 1832
- Fidlovačka aneb žádný hněv a Zadná rvačka
- Libušín sňatek, libretto Chmelensky, premiere in 1835, completely revised and re- listed in 1850
- Pouť k chrámu umění, Premiere 1846
- Columbus, Chmelensky libretto, composed in 1855, premiered in the Czech language by František Pujman 1945 in the National Theatre and as a radio recording.
- The Spectre's Bride
- Drahomíra
- The Meergeuse