A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Treitschke, Georg
TREITSCHKE, Georg Friedrich, author and entomologist, deserves a place in a Dictionary of Music, as the adapter of Joseph Sonnleithner's libretto for Beethoven's 'Fidelio,' for its revival in 1814. He was born at Leipzig, Aug. 29, 1776, died at Vienna, June 4, 1842. In 1793 his father sent him for further education to Switzerland, and there he became acquainted with Gessner of Zurich, who inspired him with a love of literature. In 1802 he went to Vienna, and fell in with Baron Braun who made him manager and librettist of the Court theatre, of which he himself was director. In 1809 he became vice-director of the theatre an-der-Wien, but in 1814 returned to his former post. In 1822 the whole of the financial arrangements of the Court theatre were placed in his hands, and remained there till his death. He adapted a host of French librettos (Cherubini's 'Deux Journées,' 'Médée,' 'Aline,' etc.) for the German stage, not always, it must be owned, with the skill shown in 'Fidelio.' His connexion with Beethoven was considerable. Besides the revision of 'Fidelio' in 1813–14, a letter of Beethoven to him, dated June 6, 1811, seems to speak of a [1]proposed opera book; another, of July 3, of a melodrama. Beethoven supplied music to a chorus of his, 'Germania,' à propos to the Fall of Paris (March 31, 1814), and to another chorus, 'Es ist vollbracht,' celebrating the entry of the Allies into Paris, July 15, 1815. Treitschke made a collection of 2,582 species of butterflies, now in the National Museum in Pesth, and was the author of several books on entomology. His first wife,
Magdalene, née de Caro, a celebrated dancer—born at Civita Vecchia, April 25, 1788, died at Vienna, Aug. 24, 1816—was brought up in London and Dublin, and became thoroughly English. Introduced on the stage by Noverre, her grace and charm created a perfect furore. She afterwards studied under Duport, made several tours, and on her return to London appeared with Vestris in the 'Caliph of Bagdad.' There in 1815 she closed her artistic career, went back to her husband in Vienna, died, and was buried near Haydn's grave.[ F. G. ]
- ↑ Unless this refers to Fidelio.