Flotow, Friedrich, Freiherr von (1812-1883)

Flotow, Friedrich, Freiherr von

COMPOSER (GERMANY)

BORN 26 Apr 1812, Rittergut Teutendorf, Mecklenburg-Schwerin - DIED 24 Jan 1883, Darmstadt, Hessen: Villa Flotow
BIRTH NAME Flotow, Friedrich Adolf Ferdinand von
GRAVE LOCATION Darmstadt, Hessen: Alter Friedhof, Ramstädter Strasse (III-E-001-003 (3 E 42-44))

Friedrich von Flotow was born into the noble Flotow family from Mecklenburg. He was a son of the Prussian captain Wilhelm von Flowotw (1785-1847) and his wife Sophie Rahel, born Von Böckmann (1792-1862). He received his first music lessons from his mother, who played the piano. From 1828 he studied composition with Anton Reicha and piano with Johann Peter Pixis at the Conversatory in Paris. In Paris he befriended Charles Gounod and Jacques Offenbach.

In 1830 he stayed in Germany for a while and at that time he composed his first dramatic works. He performed them in Paris and in 1838. His first success was his opera "Alessandro Stradella" (1844). In 1847 "Martha oder Der Markt zu Richmond" followed. Back in Mecklenburg he married Elisabeth von Zadow (1832-1851) on 21 August 1849. She died in 1851 at the age of eighteen.

Further operas in the 1850s were less successful. In 1855 he became the director of the Court Theatre in Schwerin. In the same year he married the dancer Anna Theen (1833-1872). She bore him two sons. After intrigues against him he left Schwerin and moved to Vienna. In 1867 Anna gave birth to a daughter, Anna Barbara (d.1950). He accused her of infidelity and files for divorce. Later, Anna Barbara was adopted by his friend Richard Genée (1823-1895).

On 9 August 1868 he married Rosina (1846-1925), Anna's the younger sister. In 1869 their daughter Bernardine was born. From 1870 to 1872 he lived in Wiener Neustadt. In 1880 he moved to his sister in Darmstadt and he died there in 1883.

Related persons
• was a friend of Gounod, Charles
• was a friend of Offenbach, Jacques
• was pupil of Reicha, Anton

Events

25/11/1847

Premiere of Von Flotow's opera "Martha oder Der Markt zu Richmond" at the Theater am Kärntnertor in Vienna. the opera was based on the ballet "Lady Harriette ou La Servante de Greenwich". The libretto was written by Friedrich Wilhelm Riese and based on a work by Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges. Soon afterwards it was produced in Weiamar, Dresden, Leipzig and Berlin. The opera became very popular and was one of the most performed operas in the world in the middle of the 19th century.

1/11/1852

American premiere of Von Flotow's opera "Martha" at Niblo's Gardenn in New York City. The librett owas written by Friedrich Wilhelm Riese. Anna Bishop was one of the performers.