Europäische Rezeption der Berliner Hofoper und Hofkapelle von 1842 bis 1849

The subject of this contribution is the European reception of the Berlin Royal Opera House and Orchestra from 1842 to 1849 based on German, French, Italian, English, Spanish, Belgian and Dutch music journals. The institution of regular symphony concerts, a tradition continuing to the present, was initiated in 1842. Giacomo Meyerbeer and Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy were hired as general music directors respectively conductors for the symphony concerts in the same year. The death of the conductor Otto Nicolai on 11th May 1849, two months after the premiere of his opera Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, coincides with the end of the analysed period, especially since the revolutions of 1848 in Europe represent a turning point in the history of the continent. The lively music activities of these three conductors and composers are carefully studied, as well as the guest performances of foreign virtuosos and singers, and the differences between the Berliner Hofoper and the Königstädtisches Theater.