JOSEPH HAYDN (1732-1809)

 

Die Feuersbrunst

 

Die Feuersbrunst oder das abgebrannte Haus

Marionetten-Singspiel in 2 Akten Hob.XXIXb:A

 

Sung in German

 

Otto Katzameier

Andreas Karasiak

Isa Katharina Gericke

Ferdinand von Bothmer

 

Capella Augustina (on period instruments) / Andreas Spering

 

A rarely recorded work; Haydn’s two act singspiel Die Feuersbrunst oder das abgebrannte Haus (The Conflagration or The Burned House).

 

Between the years of 1773 and 1779 Haydn was musical director at the court of Nikolaus Esterházy. In the summer months the Prince moved to his palace in Esterházy (now in Hungary) and commissioned Haydn to write puppet operas to entertain himself, his family and his servants. Die Feuersbrunst was a popular singspiel due to the comic nature of the plot, rumoured to have been written for the servants, maid and coachman at the court. It adheres to the same principles that Mozart would later adopt in The Magic Flute which made both works popular.

 

This release is authentically performed on period instruments by Capella Augustina and conducted by its conductor and founder Andreas Spering. Together they specialize in historical performance practice and their major focuses are on Baroque opera and oratorio from the Viennese Classical School.

 

CPO 2cds 7772132