Kreutzer: Das Nachlager in Granada

Opera 55

Kreutzer: Das Nachlager in Granada

Soloists

Kölner Rundfunkorchestra

Helmut Froschauer

Konradin Kreutzer (not the person to whom Beethoven dedicated a violin sonata) was part of the circle of musicians in Vienna at the turn of 19th century and certainly knew Beethoven and, perhaps, Haydn.  He was a prolific composer whose work included many operas. This one, his last, is the only one to have maintained even the slightest toe-hold in the German repertory. 

It shows just how influential the works of Weber, particularly Der Freischütz had become in Germany. It seems almost that Kreutzer had used that score as a recipe book when putting together his opera. All the elements that define German Romantic opera are there - hunting horns, peasant choruses, pastoral scenes, lyrical arias and dramatic ensembles. I found the score enjoyable but not particularly memorable - except perhaps for the rather striking use of bell-like effects near the end of the first act. I suspect that there are dozens of operas of this type lying forgotten on dusty shelves in the back of German opera houses - the chance of revival now are extremely thin.