Flotow, Friedrich Von

Flotow, Friedrich von (frē`drĭkh fən flō`tō), 1812–83, German operatic composer. Flotow's operas show the influence of French opéra comique, which set the tone for light opera in the 19th cent. Many of his 29 operas were translated into English, French, or Italian for performances throughout Europe. The most successful were Alessandro Stradella (1844) and Martha (1847), which incorporates the Irish tune "The Last Rose of Summer."

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Flotow, Friedrich Von 

Born Apr. 26, 1812, in Teutendorf; died Jan. 24, 1883, in Darmstadt. German composer.

Flotow received his musical education in Paris, studying piano with J. Pixis and composition with A. Reicha. Flotow’s chief works were operas for the Paris stage and for Viennese theaters. His music is melodic and pleasant but somewhat superficial. The plot of one of his first operas, Pierre et Catherine (Schwerin, 1835), was based on a Russian historical event. Flotow became known after writing the opera Le Naufrage de la Méduse (Paris, 1839; 2nd version entitled Die Matrosen, 1845). Among his best works were Alessandro Stradella (Hamburg, 1844) and Martha, oder Der Markt von Richmond (Vienna, 1847). From 1855 to 1863, Flotow was intendant of the court theater in Schwerin. In 1868 he settled near Vienna, and after 1880 he lived near Darmstadt.

REFERENCE

Serov, A. N. “‘Marta’: Opera v chetyrekh deistviiakh, soch. Flotova.” In his book Izbr. stat’i, vol. 2. Moscow, 1957.