Friedrich von Flotow facts for kids

Friedrich von Flotow, 1866

The grave of Friedrich von Flotow in Darmstadt, Germany

Friedrich von Flotow (born April 27, 1812 – died January 24, 1883) was a German composer. He is best known for his opera Martha. This opera was very popular in the 1800s and early 1900s.

Life of Friedrich von Flotow

Friedrich von Flotow was born in Teutendorf, Germany. His family was part of the nobility, meaning they had a high social rank. His parents wanted him to have a career in diplomacy, which involves representing his country. However, Friedrich wanted to study music. His father agreed, and he went to the Conservatoire de Paris in Paris, France. There, he studied with a teacher named Anton Reicha.

While in Paris, Flotow was influenced by many famous composers. These included Auber, Rossini, and Meyerbeer. Their styles helped shape his own music. His operas often have a French opéra comique feel. This style mixes spoken dialogue with singing.

In 1830, there was a revolution in France. Flotow returned home to Germany for safety. During this time, he wrote chamber music and short operas called operettas. Once it was safe, he went back to Paris. He finished his first opera, Pierre et Cathérine, in 1835. His big success came with Le naufrage de la Méduse in 1839. This opera was based on a real shipwreck.

One of Flotow's best works is the romantic opera Alessandro Stradella, from 1844. His most famous opera, Martha, was first performed in Vienna on November 25, 1847. It quickly became one of his most loved works.

Another revolution in France in 1848 made Flotow return home again. From 1856 to 1863, he worked as the manager of the court theater in Schwerin, Germany. After 1863, he lived in Paris or Vienna. He was happy to see his operas performed in many faraway cities, like Saint Petersburg and Turin. He passed away in Darmstadt, Germany.

Works of Friedrich von Flotow

Operas by Flotow

Friedrich von Flotow wrote about 30 operas in total. Many of these works were performed in different versions. They also had different titles and were sung in German, French, or other languages. Some of his operas still exist today, while others have been lost.

Most of his operas are not performed much anymore. Martha is the only one still staged somewhat often. Even Martha is not as popular now as it was 100 years ago. However, there have been efforts to bring back some of his other works, like Alessandro Stradella, in recent years.

The most famous song by Flotow is likely "Ach! so fromm, ach! so traut". This song has been recorded many times. Its Italian version is called "M’apparì tutt’amor".

Ballets by Flotow

Flotow also composed several ballets. Here are some of his notable ballet works:

See also

In Spanish: Friedrich von Flotow para niños