Den Danske Serie
Emil Hartmann OPERAER Elverpigen
Korsikaneren Ragnhild
Det store lod
¬ 1836 København
1898 København
Emil Hartmann had a heavy family heritage to lift; he was the son of one of the greats in Danish music life, the composer and organist J.P.E. Hartmann – and naturally, many accused him for nepotism when his works were performed. In 1867, Emil Hartmann made his debut as an opera composer with Elverpigen at the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen. The famous danish author H.C. Andersen was in the audience, and that evening he wrote in his diary:
At the theatre, Hartmann’s1 new opera Elverpigen … it is quite awful, without poetry, without dramatic movement, boring. The music sounds like it is cobbled together from other pieces. Old Hartmann is a born composer, young Hartmann has been brought up as one, in my opinion. Emil Hartmann var familiemæssigt belastet; han var søn af et af dansk
In Denmark Emil Hartmann had difficulty getting rid of his father’s
musiklivs helt store navne, komponisten og organisten J.P.E. Hartmann
shadow, but in Germany things were easier. In 1896, the opera Ragnhild
– og selvfølgelig så mange skævt til det, de mente var ren nepotisme,
was first performed in Hamburg – with the title Runenzauber – under
når han fik sine værker opført. I 1867 debuterede Emil Hartmann som
the management of Gustav Mahler himself.
operakomponist med Elverpigen på Det Kongelige Teater i København. H.C. Andersen var i salen, og skrev samme aften i sin dagbog:
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I Theatret Hartmanns1 nye Opera Elverpigen … denne særdeles daarlig, uden Poesi, uden dramatisk Bevægelse, kjedelig. Musiken syntes lappet sammen fra andre Stykker; gamle Hartmann er født Componist, unge Hartmann opdraget til det, saaledes er min Opfattelse. I Danmark havde Emil Hartmann svært ved at slippe ud af faderens skygge … men i Tyskland gik det nemmere. I 1896 blev operaen
Ragnhild uropført i Hamborg – med titlen Runenzauber – under ledelse af selveste Gustav Mahler. 1
Emil Hartmann (1836–98), dansk komponist, søn af J.P.E Hartmann
Emil Hartmann: Nordisk Folkedans Nr. 1, Sjællands Symfoniorkester, Dirigent: Bo Holten Emil Hartmann: Nordic Folk Dance No. 1, Copenhagen Philharmonic, Conductor: Bo Holten
En glemt gylden æra i dansk opera – A Forgotten Golden Era of Danish Opera
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Emil Hartmann (1836–98), Danish Composer, son of J.P.E. Hartmann.
