Arti musices, Vol. 50 No. 1-2, 2019.
Preliminary communication
https://doi.org/10.21857/mzvkptznn9
The Period of Franz Lehár in Pula (1894−1896)
Lada Duraković
; Muzička akademija Sveučilište Jurja Dobrile u Puli, Pula, Croatia
Marijana Kokanović Marković
; Akademija umetnosti Univerziteta u Novom Sadu, Novi Sad, Serbia
Abstract
The subject of research in this paper is related to the lesser known period of the artistic activity of Kapellmeister and composer Franz Lehár in Pula, as the authors’ contribution to the near 150th anniversary of composer’s birth. Today primarily recognized as a composer of successful operettas, Lehár began his career as a military musician in Barmen/Elberfeld and Lučenec. He worked in Pula from 1894 to 1896 as Kapellmeister of the Naval Orchestra and as composer. The authors first highlight Lehár’s work as Kapellmeister in the context of the socio-cultural milieu in Pula in the last decade of the 19th century. Following a detailed examination of the contemporary press in Pula, and above all into the Eco di Pola gazette, the repertoire of the orchestra under Lehár’s guidance was reconstructed. Special attention has been devoted to Lehár’s works composed in Pula. In addition to the repertoire typical for the oeuvre of a military Kapellmeister (marches, dances, potpourris), in this period, Lehár also composed in more demanding genres. Lehár’s acquaintance with the opera composer from Pula Antonio Smareglia, with whom he spent much time talking about music, was of critical importance to Lehár as a composer, as was his acquaintance with naval officer and poet Felix Falzari. His new friends encouraged Lehár in his compositional work. Falzari wrote lyrics for his art song cycle Weidmannsliebe Op. 26, as well as the libretto for the opera Kukuschka.
Keywords
Franz Lehár; Pula; Naval Orchestra; military music
Hrčak ID:
234083
URI
Publication date:
6.12.2019.
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