BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Saturday, October 23, 1824

Today’s issue of the Wiener Theaterzeitung (Nr.128) at 511-12 contains an appreciation of the Josephstadt Theater, where Beethoven’s former unpaid assistant Anton Schindler serves as concertmaster. We present here a few excerpts of this laudatory article.

“Something about the Josephstadt Theater in general.

Theater in the Josephstadt, 1823 (Tranquillo Mollo, Wien’s vorzüglichste Gebäude und Monumente, Plate 61)

“How fortunate the insightful management of this theater is in the choice, or rather how skillful, attentive and diligent they are in the production of their plays, is demonstrated by the almost uninterrupted, constant attendance at this theater…. The management certainly knows how to make the best selections when hiring people and to keep the employees in good service and courageous activity. In addition to the valiant directors of this theater, the conductor, Mr. Gläser, is an outstanding talent. This young man has already composed so much, and he always remains interesting and appealing. He knows how to adapt his creation to the strengths of the people who need it, and how to use the outstanding talents among the singers and in the orchestra appropriately and effectively for the greatest enjoyment of the audience. His compositions are not only well-rounded and pleasant, but also characteristic and solid, so much so that they prove that Gläser would also be successful in writing for serious opera. He is full of inventiveness and his comic streak is an inexhaustible source of humorous, entertaining music. Mr. Gläser is the man for his position, and he will give the audience a lot of pleasure there. Since this theater is primarily concerned with romantic-comic subjects for magic operas, Gläser also has the opportunity to bring his genius into play in choruses, melodramas, overtures, etc., and to prepare himself for higher activities. The audience does him full justice and recognizes how much of the applause is his.

“Of the talents that are on the stage, we must single out Madam Dunst and Mr. Hopp above all others. Madam Dunst is a versatile actress, her most brilliant area of ​​activity is the naive comic. She is eloquent in the prelude to teasing, humorous songs and duets, and knows how to bring Gläser’s ideas to life and make them effective. At the same time, the nice, pretty woman always knows how to dress appropriately, without degenerating into a ridiculous costume show. In her acting, she has made a great step for the better by only being content with her fellow actors on the stage, without addressing the stalls (This should be taken to heart by many who cause annoyance by making small talk in the stands and the stalls.)

“The ballet staff has gained a lot by engaging new talent; we hear that they will soon be working in a pleasant way. The talented Mr. Platzer has also been engaged, and the management has many new pieces in the pipeline, which promise many pleasant evenings for the winter.

“Space prohibits giving detailed, encouraging praise to all the hard-working and talented members of this theater, who deserve it…. It is a pleasure for the art lover to observe the tireless activity of this theater and a real pleasure to call out a friendly word of sympathy for its fate; for the artist, recognition of his efforts is the best reward.”