Dalberg, Wolfgang Heribert von (1750-1806)

Dalberg, Wolfgang Heribert von

THEATRE MANAGER (GERMANY)

BORN 18 Nov 1750, Worms, Rheinland-Pfalz: Schloss Herrnsheim - DIED 27 Sep 1806, Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg
BIRTH NAME Dalberg, Wolfgang Heribert Tobias Otto Maria Johannes Nepomuk von
GRAVE LOCATION Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg: Hauptfriedhof, Röntgenstrasse (174 (Haas))

Wolfgang Heribert von Dalberg was the son of the nobleman Franz Heinrich von Dalberg (1716-1776). His mother was Maria Sophie Anna Freiin von Eltz-Kempenich (1722-1763). He studied law in Göttingen and worked for the Historical Insitute in that city. In 1770 he became chamberlain to the Elector of the Palatinate. In 1771 he married Elisabeth Augusta Ulner von Dieburg (1751-1816 or 1818). they had six children.

He was appointed court judge of the Electorate of Mainz in 1772 and became the governor of the Archbishop of Main. In 1775 he became privy councillor of the Electorate of the Palatinate and vice president of the court chamber. In this role he suggested a national theatre in Mannheim. He was supported by the Elector and he became the director of the new theatre in 1778.

He wrote dramas himself, but he is best known for his associations with Friedrich Schiller. After insisting on several changes, he staged Schiller's "Die Räuber" ("The Robbers") in 1782 with remarkable success. He gave Schiller a contract for three further plays in 1784. The collaboration was no success and Schiller's contract wasn't renewed after it expired.

Dalberg was appointed president of the Higher Court of Appeal in 1789. In 1790 he was the first person to be knighted by emperor Leopold II after the crowning of the new emperor. In the 1799 the theatre suffered financially from the French Revolution and he was forced to resign his directorship in 1803. Dalberg died in Mannheim in 1806 and he was buried at the Roman-Catholic Cemetery. After this was closed his remains and those of his wife were moved to the Hauptfriedhof.

Related persons
• cooperated with Iffland, August Wilhelm
• cooperated with Schiller, Friedrich von

Events

13/1/1782

Premiere of Schiller's "Die Räuber" at the Nationaltheater in Mannheim. It was staged after Wolfgang Heribert von Dalberg, the director of the theatre, had insisted on certain changes. A.W. Iffland was Franz Moor, Johan David Beil was Der Schweizer, Heinrich Beck was Kosinsky. Anna Toscani was Amalia and Friedrich Meyer was Hermann. Friedrich Schiller wasn't allowed to leave Württemberg but he secretly attended the premiere together with his freund Andreas Streicher. [Iffland, August Wilhelm][Schiller, Friedrich von][Streicher, Andreas]