Austin Glatthorn
@glatthorn.bsky.social
Musicologist & cultural historian, Royal Northern College of Music | Fellow, Royal Historical Society | Author, ‘Music Theatre and the Holy Roman Empire’ (CUP) | Editor, 'Eighteenth-Century Music' | Current project: 'The Cambridge History of German Opera'
In the end, the abrupt regime change in #Mainz led to a scenario where the new administration was enthusiastic about—but financially, ideologically, and logistically ill-equipped to support—the #theatre that had flourished under the former electoral government and ultimately led to its collapse. 7/7
November 15, 2025 at 10:41 AM
In the end, the abrupt regime change in #Mainz led to a scenario where the new administration was enthusiastic about—but financially, ideologically, and logistically ill-equipped to support—the #theatre that had flourished under the former electoral government and ultimately led to its collapse. 7/7
In mid-1793, troops from Brandenburg-Prussia retook the city. The bombardment destroyed the theatre, its sets, and wardrobe. The court eventually returned, but not the renowned Nationaltheater that performed before international audiences at imperial coronations in 1790 and 1792. 6/7
November 15, 2025 at 10:41 AM
In mid-1793, troops from Brandenburg-Prussia retook the city. The bombardment destroyed the theatre, its sets, and wardrobe. The court eventually returned, but not the renowned Nationaltheater that performed before international audiences at imperial coronations in 1790 and 1792. 6/7
When elections were held in February 1793, only c400 showed up to vote after days of threats and coercion (Mainz’s total population was c30,000). Some elected in surrounding areas refused to serve. It seems as though they knew the Mainzer Republik’s days were numbered. And they were right. 5/7
November 15, 2025 at 10:41 AM
When elections were held in February 1793, only c400 showed up to vote after days of threats and coercion (Mainz’s total population was c30,000). Some elected in surrounding areas refused to serve. It seems as though they knew the Mainzer Republik’s days were numbered. And they were right. 5/7
Mainz’s c500 Jacobins listed in the Red Book tried organising their own political theatre in its place, but the few musicians and actors who remained refused to perform or lend costumes, sets, etc. Records, testimonies, and letters reveal most Mainzers refused to support the French. 4/7
November 15, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Mainz’s c500 Jacobins listed in the Red Book tried organising their own political theatre in its place, but the few musicians and actors who remained refused to perform or lend costumes, sets, etc. Records, testimonies, and letters reveal most Mainzers refused to support the French. 4/7
The French and their supporters did at least try to raise money for the theatre through dances, as depicted below. Yet it was clear to Nationaltheater personnel by November that they had no future in Mainz: most fled to areas untouched by the war like Hamburg and Berlin. 3/7
November 15, 2025 at 10:41 AM
The French and their supporters did at least try to raise money for the theatre through dances, as depicted below. Yet it was clear to Nationaltheater personnel by November that they had no future in Mainz: most fled to areas untouched by the war like Hamburg and Berlin. 3/7
Performances continued at first. But the theatre struggled without the ticket sales generated by Mainz’s electoral court and citizens. According to local actor Joseph Anton Christ, very few French military theatregoers paid: their belief in freedom and equality meant ‘everything must be free’. 2/7
November 15, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Performances continued at first. But the theatre struggled without the ticket sales generated by Mainz’s electoral court and citizens. According to local actor Joseph Anton Christ, very few French military theatregoers paid: their belief in freedom and equality meant ‘everything must be free’. 2/7
#OTD 1792: the #Mainz Nationaltheater performed for the final time. Founded in 1788, it quickly became one of the leading German #opera and #theatre companies and performed at the imperial coronations of 1790 and 1792. Its fate changed when the French Army captured the city in Oct 1792...1/7
November 15, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Apple Music nailed the genre of Vincenzo Righini's Missa Solenne (1790): Contemporary Pop
November 13, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Apple Music nailed the genre of Vincenzo Righini's Missa Solenne (1790): Contemporary Pop
Some shots from the wonderful Museu da Música Portuguesa/Casa Verdades de Faria
November 8, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Some shots from the wonderful Museu da Música Portuguesa/Casa Verdades de Faria
At the first of my two remaining conferences of 2025. This one is in lovely Cascais, Portugal (the final one will be in Munich in December). It’s my first time in Cascais, and I’m really enjoying it so far.
November 5, 2025 at 5:26 PM
At the first of my two remaining conferences of 2025. This one is in lovely Cascais, Portugal (the final one will be in Munich in December). It’s my first time in Cascais, and I’m really enjoying it so far.
Dating back to 1681, the Ekhof-Theater in Schloss Friedenstein, Gotha, is tiny, but played a significant part in the history of German music theatre. It was among the earliest German-language theatres located at a court and was where many of Georg Benda’s melodramas and Singspiele premiered. 1/3
October 25, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Dating back to 1681, the Ekhof-Theater in Schloss Friedenstein, Gotha, is tiny, but played a significant part in the history of German music theatre. It was among the earliest German-language theatres located at a court and was where many of Georg Benda’s melodramas and Singspiele premiered. 1/3
An anecdote from the late 18c stage: an actor & singer of questionable ability encored an aria from a comic opera. Applause demanded yet another. He asked, “Is the praiseworthy audience making a fool of me, or do I really sing so beautifully? In either case, I’m at your command!”, and sang it again.
October 24, 2025 at 11:08 AM
An anecdote from the late 18c stage: an actor & singer of questionable ability encored an aria from a comic opera. Applause demanded yet another. He asked, “Is the praiseworthy audience making a fool of me, or do I really sing so beautifully? In either case, I’m at your command!”, and sang it again.
To commemorate the death of his friend Christoph Willibald #Gluck, Ignaz von #Beecke composed a ‘Musical Apotheosis’ in 1787. In fact, Beecke had earlier written a similar musical memorial on the untimely death the singer Marianne (Nanette) Gluck (Gluck’s niece & ward) in 1776.
October 19, 2025 at 12:23 PM
On this day, 1790: #Mozart performed a #concert in Frankfurt am Main during the festivities surrounding the coronation of Leopold II. Compared to other concerts at the event, Mozart’s was a relative failure: it was poorly attended and was cut short because hungry listeners wanted lunch.
October 15, 2025 at 8:12 AM
A paper model of the Schwarzenberg #theatre (1766) in Český Krumlov. It’s a nice reminder of my last two summers teaching there. I can’t wait to revisit it again.
October 11, 2025 at 8:03 PM
A paper model of the Schwarzenberg #theatre (1766) in Český Krumlov. It’s a nice reminder of my last two summers teaching there. I can’t wait to revisit it again.
In 1784, Goez helped a theatre company of nobles stage 'Lenardo und Blandine' in Augsburg. His 'Versuch' and its engravings constitute an important source for those studying the interaction of music, declamation, and gesture in eighteenth-century acting.
October 11, 2025 at 7:43 PM
In 1784, Goez helped a theatre company of nobles stage 'Lenardo und Blandine' in Augsburg. His 'Versuch' and its engravings constitute an important source for those studying the interaction of music, declamation, and gesture in eighteenth-century acting.
'Lenardo und Blandine' premiered in Munich in 1779 with #music by Peter von Winter. The #melodrama's author, J.F. von Goez, was not only a playwright, but also an illustrator whose treatise on movement, declamation, and expression includes 160 engravings from the work—essentially a graphic novel.
October 11, 2025 at 7:42 PM
'Lenardo und Blandine' premiered in Munich in 1779 with #music by Peter von Winter. The #melodrama's author, J.F. von Goez, was not only a playwright, but also an illustrator whose treatise on movement, declamation, and expression includes 160 engravings from the work—essentially a graphic novel.
“In a well-known symphony by Kapellmeister #Haydn, the orchestra gets smaller and smaller by the departure of musicians in the Finale. Here is the opposite…” J. #Sperger’s ‘Arrival’ #symphony begins with two musicians and grows as more join throughout. youtu.be/hhTGCZGJKzI
October 11, 2025 at 12:08 PM
“In a well-known symphony by Kapellmeister #Haydn, the orchestra gets smaller and smaller by the departure of musicians in the Finale. Here is the opposite…” J. #Sperger’s ‘Arrival’ #symphony begins with two musicians and grows as more join throughout. youtu.be/hhTGCZGJKzI
Here is the Queen of the Night’s costume, from Mozart’s ‘The Magic Flute’, depicted in 1794. The accompanying text noted the opera’s renown, but still explained the scene for early audiences.
August 5, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Here is the Queen of the Night’s costume, from Mozart’s ‘The Magic Flute’, depicted in 1794. The accompanying text noted the opera’s renown, but still explained the scene for early audiences.
In July 1792, the Mainz National #Theatre premiered the #opera ‘Heinrich der Löwe’ at the imperial coronation of Franz II in Frankfurt am Main, the last of the #HRE. Despite evidence of subsequent performances into the nineteenth century, very little of its #music has been found.
July 27, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Finally getting to Jacqueline’s ‘Speaking German Musically’!
July 27, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Finally getting to Jacqueline’s ‘Speaking German Musically’!
Day 1 of 2 of Estates Theatre fun.
June 16, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Day 1 of 2 of Estates Theatre fun.
It’s lovely being back in Český Krumlov. Can’t wait to introduce a new group of students to the town and region, and host a conference here later this month.
June 1, 2025 at 2:48 PM
It’s lovely being back in Český Krumlov. Can’t wait to introduce a new group of students to the town and region, and host a conference here later this month.
I’m delighted to have been awarded SSHRC funding to support an international workshop in Český Krumlov. It will be the capstone to our ‘Cambridge History of German Opera to the Early 19c’, where contributors will discuss #earlymodern #German #music and #theatre (and see an opera on an 18c stage)!
April 26, 2025 at 9:11 AM
I’m delighted to have been awarded SSHRC funding to support an international workshop in Český Krumlov. It will be the capstone to our ‘Cambridge History of German Opera to the Early 19c’, where contributors will discuss #earlymodern #German #music and #theatre (and see an opera on an 18c stage)!