The reception of French opera in Amsterdam (1830-1839) - PhDData

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The reception of French opera in Amsterdam (1830-1839)

The thesis was published by Osmond, William Gerard Max Charles, in January 2023, University of Southampton.

Abstract:

The present thesis addresses the essential questions regarding French Opera and musical theatre in Amsterdam in the 1830s. An initial presentation of the existing favourable historical and cultural circumstances in the Netherlands explain how French-language musical theatre was able to attain such a high, albeit presently overlooked, degree of importance in the Dutch capital. By taking into account the theatres where these works were seen and heard, it is possible to determine how numerous French stage genres were adapted to the reality and limitations of these theatre halls. The presentation and analysis of the repertoire performed in these theatres, announced daily by the Dutch press, have made it possible to establish performance statistics and determine trends in the popularity of certain genres among the audience. By laying out the intricate network of agents involved in the performance of these works, it was possible to explore the dynamics that existed between local and foreign artists, the directors that hired them, the critics that passed judgement and the audience that acclaimed or rejected the show. Theatre life in 1830s Amsterdam was vibrant with French stage works, performed either in their original language or translated into Dutch or German, making the capital of the Netherlands an important hub for French opĂ©ra, opĂ©ra-comique and comĂ©die-vaudeville; and a brilliant jewel on the crown of the Francosphere. La prĂ©sente thèse aborde les questions essentielles concernant la place de l’opĂ©ra et du théâtre musical français Ă  Amsterdam dans les annĂ©es 1830. Une prĂ©sentation initiale des circonstances historiques et culturelles favorables prĂ©sentes aux Pays-Bas expliquent comment le théâtre musical français a pu atteindre un degrĂ© Ă©levĂ© d’importance, bien qu’actuellement ignorĂ©, dans la capitale nĂ©erlandaise. En prenant en compte les diffĂ©rents théâtres oĂą ces Ĺ“uvres ont Ă©tĂ© vues et entendues, il est possible de dĂ©terminer la façon dont les nombreux genres scĂ©niques français ont Ă©tĂ© adaptĂ©s Ă  la rĂ©alitĂ© et aux limites de ces salles de spectacle. La prĂ©sentation et l’analyse des rĂ©pertoires jouĂ©s dans ces théâtres, annoncĂ©s quotidiennement par la presse nĂ©erlandaise, ont permis d’établir des statistiques et ainsi dĂ©terminer les tendances chez le public de la popularitĂ© de certains genres. En arborant le rĂ©seau complexe d’agents impliquĂ©s dans l’exĂ©cution de ces ouvrages, il a Ă©tĂ© possible d’explorer les dynamiques qui existaient entre les troupes locales et les artistes en tournĂ©e, les directeurs qui les ont engagĂ©s, les critiques qui les ont jugĂ©s et le public qui a acclamĂ© ou rejetĂ© le spectacle. La vie théâtrale Ă  Amsterdam dans les annĂ©es 1830 Ă©tait riche en Ĺ“uvres scĂ©niques françaises, jouĂ©es soit dans leur langue d’origine, soit traduites en nĂ©erlandais ou en allemand, faisant de la capitale des Pays-Bas un haut lieu français de l’opĂ©ra, l’opĂ©ra-comique et la comĂ©die-vaudeville; et un joyau brillant sur la couronne de la Francosphère.



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