Danzi, Franz
Born: 15.05.1763Died: 13.04.1826
deutscher Komponist, Dirigent und Cellist
Franz Danzi was born in Mannheim. His father Innocenz was the solo cellist of the famous Mannheim court orchestra, his uncle the composer and concertmaster Carl Toeschi. Franz Danzi's musical talent became apparent at an early age. Taught by his father in singing, violoncello and piano, he joined the court orchestra as a cellist at the age of fifteen. At the age of seventeen he was also engaged as a répétiteur at the Court Opera. His compositional talent was also recognised early on and encouraged by none other than the famous "Abbe" Vogler (in 1780 the opera "Azakia", later in Munich "Die Mitternachtsstunde", "Der Kuss" and "Iphigenie". Due to succession, Elector Karl Theodor moved his court and many musicians, including Innocenz Danzi, to Munich. In 1783 Innocenz was retired and Franz was appointed to his position, so at the age of twenty he was already solo cellist in the court orchestra.
In 1791 his life changed fundamentally. After marrying the famous singer Margarethe Marchand, he takes a leave of absence from the orchestra and undertakes a seven-year concert tour with her, with longer stays in Hamburg, Leipzig, Prague, Venice and Florence. They return to Munich "crowned with glory", where he is employed at the Bavarian Court from 1798 as Vicekapellmeister, specialising in opera and church music.
After the death of his wife and the lack of prospects for an improvement in his professional situation (Peter von Winter was 1st Court Kapellmeister), he no longer felt at home in Munich and in 1807 accepted the position of CourtKapellmeistertoKingFriedrichWilhelmKarlofWürttemberginStuttgart. It was during this time that his friendship with Carl Maria von Weber, then secretary to Prince Ludwig, began. Danzi performed Weber's opera "Abu Hassan" and assisted him in word and deed. A friendship developed which is documented in numerous letters, some of them witty and written in the formofmusical scenes. (1811: "Allerliebster Herr Kapellmeister, der Unterschriebene, Weber heißt er, und ein Herr Bärmann, wohlbekonnen, haben gestern die ganze Welt durchronnen, um Sie sehen, zu sprechen, zu ören...").
His last position in 1812 took him to the court in Karlsruhe. According to contemporaries, he was able to increase the performance of the orchestra in order to perform the great works of Mozart, Beethoven and, of course, Weber together with the good opera forces. After a life filled with many professional successes, Franz Danzi died on 13 April 1826.
immediately
