Holstein, Franz (Friedrich) von

Holstein, Franz (Friedrich) von, German composer; b. Braunschweig, Feb. 16, 1826; d. Leipzig, May 22, 1878. His father was an army officer and at his behest, Holstein entered the Cadet School, concurrently studying music theory with Griepenkerl. While a lieutenant, he privately produced his operetta, Zwei Nächte in Venedig (1845). He fought in the Schleswig-Holstein campaign, then wrote a grand opera, Waverley, after Walter Scott. He sent the score to Hauptmann at the Leipzig Cons, who expressed willingness to accept Holstein as a student. Accordingly, he resigned from the army (1853) and studied with Hauptmann, H. Richter, and Moscheles at the Leipzig Cons. He then devoted himself to composition. He was also a poet, and wrote his own librettos. The style of his operas was close to the French type, popularized by Auber. He was a man of means, and left a valuable legacy for the benefit of indigent music students.

Works

DRAMATIC: Opera: Der Haideschacht (Dresden, Oct. 22, 1868); Der Erbe von Money (Leipzig, Jan. 23, 1872); Die Hochländer (Mannheim, Jan. 16, 1876); Marino Fallerò (unfinished). ORCH.: Frau Aventiure, overture (sketches only; orchestrated by A. Dietrich; Leipzig, Nov. 13, 1879). CHAMBER: Various works, including a Piano Trio. VOCAL: Beatrice, scene for Soprano, with Orch.; part-songs for Mixed and Men’s Voices; etc.

Bibliography

G Glaser, F. v.H: Ein Dichterkomponist des 19. Jahrhunderts (Leipzig, 1930).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire