Albert Lortzing

Albert Lortzing was born into a family of itinerant actors in Berlin and grew up performing on stage. In addition to acting and singing, he composed incidental music and singspiels, including the oratorio 'Die Himmelfahrt Christi'. He married the actress Rosina Regine Ahles, with whom he had a large family, and worked with theatre companies in Leipzig and Detmold.

Lortzing became one of the most popular composers of German comic opera with works such as 'Zar und Zimmermann', 'Der Wildschütz' and 'Der Waffenschmied'. Serving as Kapellmeister at the Leipzig Stadttheater and later the Theater an der Wien, he also wrote politically themed and satirical works like 'Regina' and the fairy‑tale spoof 'Rolands Knappen'. After disputes with theatre management he lost his positions and returned briefly to acting before taking a final conducting post in Berlin. Lortzing's music is characterised by folk‑infused melodies, lively orchestration and a light, humorous tone.