Georg Friedrich Treitschke

Georg Friedrich Treitschke, lithograph by Josef Kriehuber , 1841

Georg Friedrich Treitschke , also Friedrich Treitschke , (born August 29, 1776 in Leipzig , † June 4, 1842 in Vienna ) was a German-Austrian playwright, theater director and lepidopterologist ( butterfly researcher ).

Life

At the request of his father, the businessman Daniel Friedrich Treitschke, Georg Friedrich also embarked on a commercial career and was sent to Switzerland in 1793 for further training. In Zurich, his acquaintance with the preacher and poet Georg Geßner strengthened his fondness for poetry and theater. In 1797 Treitschke returned to Leipzig and initially worked there as a merchant. After the death of his father in 1799, however, he devoted himself entirely to writing. His first play, Das Bauerngut , a continuation of the comedy The Two Billets by Christian Leberecht Heyne (aka Anton Wall), was played on many German stages. In 1802, on a trip to Vienna, Treitschke made the acquaintance of Baron von Braun , the head of the Burgtheater (then: k.-k. Hoftheater) and was employed as a theater director and stage poet at the court theater. On October 23, 1805 he married the dancer Magdalena de Caro (born April 25, 1788 in Civitavecchia, † August 24, 1816 in Vienna), with whom he had a daughter. Two other sons Friedrich (1819–1878) and Josef (1822–1844) were born through their second marriage to Christiane Auguste Croyherr von Kriechenfels (1792–1848). In 1809, in addition to his actual office, Treitschke took over the vice-directorate and from 1811–1814 the director of the Theater an der Wien , which was closely connected with the two court theaters . From 1814 Treitschke was employed again as a director at the court theater. Mainly he directed the German and Italian opera there. In 1822 he became court theater economist, with which he was given the supervision of finances and accounting of the house.

Through his friendship with the actor and entomologist Ferdinand Ochsenheimer (1767-1822), whom he had met in Leipzig in 1797 and who played at the Vienna Court Theater from 1807, Treitschke was encouraged to deal with lepidopterology (butterfly studies). From 1808, when he was prescribed recovery and fresh air due to illness, he was Ochsenheimer's companion on numerous entomological excursions, assisted him with the publication of the work The Butterflies of Europe (Volumes 1-4, 1807-1816) and gave after Ochsenheimer's death volumes 5 to 10 (1825–1835) themselves. His entomological works appeared under the name "Friedrich Treitschke".

Work and performance

Poster of a Fidelio performance

Treitschke wrote a considerable number of plays, singspiele and opera texts, among which his libretto to Beethoven's Fidelio (as the third and therefore final version of May 23, 1814) is of particular importance. In addition, he published numerous works on music and theater in magazines and in the daily press, published several anthologies of poetry and two volumes of his own poems (1817, 1841). Through his decades of different activities, he had business and friendly contacts with the composers of his time, including Beethoven, Antonio Salieri , Joseph Weigl , Conradin Kreutzer , Carl Maria von Weber and Franz Schubert . Treitschke's Singspiel The Good News was underlaid in parts 1 with music by Mozart and part 8 with Beethoven's Germania choir . Beethoven set the German folk song "Der Ruf vom Berge (If I Were A Vöglein Were) WoO 146" to music and dedicated it to the lyricist Treitschke "the best poet and traditional costume from the banks of Vienna to the Amazon river". As a theater poet, Treitschke had contact with JW v. Goethe. Goethe asked for the manuscript of “Mozart's Idomeneus ” to be sent to Weimar. Treitschke translated Idomeneo from Italian into German and brought it to the stage for the first time in Vienna. However, most of his works are now forgotten.

Treitschke has earned permanent fame in the entomological field. Here he made a name for himself through the careful and reliable treatment of the butterflies of Europe as a continuation of Ochsenheimer's unfinished work. When his creative power waned from 1815, Treitschke took over part of the work on volume 4 and the lion's share of volume 5, in which Ochsenheimer only worked on part of the first genre. The death of Treitschke's wife in 1816 may have contributed to the fact that he threw himself into this work as a distraction. After Ochsenheimer died in 1822, Treitschke continued the work, with volumes 5 to 10 divided into 12 volumes of 250 to 450 pages each, each appearing only one year apart. With an unusually sharp eye, Treitschke discovered and described numerous new species in almost all larger groups, with the exception of butterflies and the so-called "spinners" and swarmers, which had already been processed by Ochsenheimer. Many of the new species came from collectors from Vienna, Austria, Hungary, Dalmatia, but also from other Balkan and Mediterranean countries. Although the books did not contain any illustrations, specimens of new and little-known species were occasionally reproduced by the authors of illustrated works, namely by Christian Friedrich Freyer (1794–1885). Overall, Treitschke deserves the credit of having created a complete work on the knowledge of the biodiversity of European lepidopterans at the time, which contains not only detailed descriptions of the adults , but also of the caterpillars, their food plants and their way of life. According to the current state of the nomenclature , over 130 of Treitschke's taxa are in use as valid species names.

Several species of butterflies were named in his honor, including Euploea treitschkei (Boisduval, 1832), Pyrrhia treitschkei (Frivaldszky, 1835), Antispila treitschkiella (Fischer von Röslerstamm, 1843) and Abrepagoge treitschkeana (Treitschke, 1835).

In zoological literature, his name is usually abbreviated to "Tr.".

Remaining collection

Treitschke's collection comprised approx. 9,500 copies in 2,582 species and varieties. In 1843 it was sold for 3,000 guilders to the Hungarian National Museum in Budapest, to which the Ochsenheimer collection with 3772 copies had already moved in 1824.

Works

Entomological works

• F. Ochsenheimer, F. Treitschke: The butterflies of Europe. Volume 5/1. Fleischer, Leipzig 1825 XVI + 414 pp.
• F. Treitschke: The butterflies of Europe. Volume 5/2. Fleischer, Leipzig 1825, 447 + [1] p.
• F. Treitschke: The butterflies of Europe. Volume 5/3. Fleischer, Leipzig 1826, IV + 419 + [1] p.
• F. Treitschke: The butterflies of Europe. Volume 6/1. Fleischer, Leipzig 1827, VIII + 444 pp.
• F. Treitschke: The butterflies of Europe. Volume 6/2. Fleischer, Leipzig 1828, 319 pp.
• F. Treitschke: The butterflies of Europe. Volume 7. Fleischer, Leipzig 1829, VI + 252 pp.
• F. Treitschke: The butterflies of Europe. Volume 8. Fleischer, Leipzig 1830, VIII + 312 pp.
• F. Treitschke: The butterflies of Europe. Volume 9/1. Fleischer, Leipzig 1832, VIII + 272 pp.
• F. Treitschke: The butterflies of Europe. Volume 9/2. Fleischer, Leipzig 1833, 284 pp.
• F. Treitschke: The butterflies of Europe. Volume 10/1. Fleischer, Leipzig 1834, X + 286 pp.
• F. Treitschke: The butterflies of Europe. Volume 10/2. Fleischer, Leipzig 1835, [2] + 340 pp.
• F. Treitschke: The butterflies of Europe. Volume 10/3. Fleischer, Leipzig 1835, [4] + 302 pp.
• F. Treitschke (ed.): Natural history picture room of the animal kingdom. After William Jardine. Preface by K. Vogel. 4 volumes (1840–1843). Hartleben, Pesth / Leipzig. Approx. 770 p., 180 plates (360 ill.).
• F. Treitschke: Natural history of the European butterflies. Enthusiasts and spinners. Hartleben Pesth 1841. [9] + XIV + [2] + 222 p., Frontispiece, 30 plates.
• Natural history of the pigeons, after Prideaux John and Selby. German edited by GF Treitschke, Pesth 1839.

Dramatic and other works (selection)

• GF Treitschke: Singspiele according to the French. 5 volumes. Vienna 1808.
• F. Treitschke: Poems. IB Wallishausser, Vienna 1817.
• GF Treitschke: Libretto for the cantata You, this covenant rock and founder - set to music by Salieri, 1820.
• GF Treitschke: Libretto for the continuation of Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro The Two Figaro - set to music by Conradin Kreutzer for Vienna, first performance in Braunschweig 1838/1840.
• K. Streckfuß, GF Treitschke (ed.) (1805): Musenalmanach for the year 1805.
• A. Kuhn, GF Treitschke (ed.) (1808): Musenalmanach for the year 1808.
• F. Treitschke: Poems. IB Wallishausser, Vienna 1841. [8] + 162 pp.

Further work and translations

Art	title	template	composer	date
Weird opera	Car wins	Jean-Nicolas Bouilly , 2 elevators	Étienne-Nicolas Méhul	1803 Vienna, court theater
Opera	Helene	J.-N. Bouilly, 3 elevators	E.-N. Mehul	November 18, 1803 Vienna, Court Theater
Funny Singspiel	The uncle in livery	Alexandre Duval , 1 elevator	PA Diminique	1803 Vienna, court theater
Singspiel	The Singspiel	GF Treitschke, 1 elevator	Dominique Della Maria	October 15, 1803 Vienna, Court Theater
Funny Singspiel	The Portuguese inn	Etienne Aignon, 1 elevator	Luigi Cherubini	September 22, 1803 Vienna, Court Theater
Singspiel	Chapter Two	EM Dubaty, 1 elevator	JP Shall	1803 Vienna, court theater
Song game	compassion	GF Treitschke, 1 elevator	Paul Wranitzky	April 22, 1804 Vienna, Burgtheater
Opera	Those referred to Kamchatka	Alexandre Duval, 3 elevators	François-Adrien Boieldieu	1804 Vienna, Kärntnertortheater
Opera	The negroes	GF Treitschke, 2 files	Antonio Salieri	11/10/1804 Vienna, Theater an der Wien
Opera	Aline, Queen of Golconda	Vial u. Favieres, 3 elevators	Henri Montan Berton	Vienna 1804
Singspiel	Milton	Victor-Joseph Étienne de Jouy and Dieulafoi, 1 act	Gaspare Spontini	March 24, 1806 Vienna
Singspiel	The admiral ship	Reveroni Saint-Cyr, 1 elevator	HM Berton	1805 Vienna Court Theater
Singspiel	The Singspiel on the windows	GF Treitschke, 1 elevator	Nicolas Isouard	1806 Vienna, court theater
Opera	The uniform	Giuseppe Carpani , 2 elevators	Joseph Weigl	February 15, 1805 Vienna, Court Theater
Song game	The poet's birthday	GF Treitschke, 1 elevator	A. Bergt	1807 Vienna, court theater
Romantic drama	Zobe'is	GF Treitschke, Gozzi, 5 elevators	play	October 1806 Vienna
Weird opera	The wandering comedians	LB Picard, 2 elevators	François Devienne	December 18, 1805 Vienna, Court Theater
Funny Singspiel	The Singspiel on the roof	Treitschke M. Dumersan, 1 elevator	AF Fischer	1807 Vienna, Theater an der Wien
Opera	Adrian von Ostade	GF Treitschke, 1 elevator	J. Weigl	October 3, 1807 Vienna, Kärntnertortheater
Singspiel	The orphanage	GF Treitschke, 2 elevators	J. Weigl	October 4, 1808 Vienna, Kärntnertortheater
Tragic opera	Medea	GF Treitschke, 3 elevators	L. Cherubini	November 6, 1802 Vienna
Romantic opera	Little Red Riding Hood	Theaulon de Lambert, 3 elevators	FA. Boieldieu	1802 Vienna, Kärntnerthortheater
Acting with singing	The days of danger	J.-N. Bouilly, 1 elevator	L. Cherubini	1802 Vienna, Kärntnerthortheater
Funny Singspiel	The two posts	EM Dubaty, 1 elevator	Angelo Tarchi	1803 Vienna, court theater
Comedy	The two tickets	Heyne (called Anton Wall)	Comedy	1802 Vienna
comical singing game	The bachelor's business	GF Treitschke, 1 elevator	Adalbert Gyrowetz	June 18, 1807 Vienna, Court Theater
Opera	Calaf	GF Treitschke, 3 elevators	Nicolas-Marie Delayrac	October 13, 1808 Vienna, Court Theater
Funny Singspiel	The musical academy	BJ Marsollier , 1 elevator	Luigi Torelli	June 18, 1807 Vienna, Kärntnertortheater
Singspiel	Bercy's milkmaid	GF Treitschke, S.Vaudeville 2 elevators	Anton Friedrich Fischer	June 1st, 1808 Vienna, Court Theater
Acting with singing	Count Armand	J.-N. Bouilly, 3 elevators	L. Cherubini	December 14, 1805 Vienna, Kärntnertortheater
Singspiel	The political pourer	L. Holberg, 3 elevators	Vaudeville	December 20, 1803
Arias and chants	from Gabrielle d'Estrees	C. Godard Aucord de SJ, 3 elevators	E.-N. Mehul	July 15, 1807 Vienna, Theater an der Wien
Singspiel	Julie or the flower pot	AG Jars, 1 elevator	G. Spontini	November 5th, 1806 Vienna, Kärntnertortheater
Funny Singspiel	The night watchman	Ms. W. Hunnius, 1 act	Sigismund von Neukomm	1804 Vienna
Opera	Alexander on the Indus	Ms. W. Hunnius, 1 act	S. von Neukomm	January 27, 1804, St. Petersburg
Funny Singspiel	Girl loyalty	Lorenzo Da Ponte, 2 acts	WA Mozart (after Così fan tutte )	Vienna 09.09.1805
Singspiel	Idomeneus, King of Crete	Giambattista Varesco , 3 acts	WA Mozart	August 3rd, 1806 Vienna
Singspiel	The good news	GF Treitschke, 1 act	Mozart, Beethoven, Weigl, Umlauf, Hummel	April 11, 1814 Vienna, Kärntnertortheater
Singspiel	The gates of honor	GF Treitschke, 1 act	CM von Weber , GF Handel , L. v. Beethoven et al	July 15, 1815 Vienna, Kärntnertortheater
Opera	The youth of Peter the Great	J.-N. Bouilly, 3 elevators	J. Weigl	10.10.1814 Vienna, Kärntnertortheater
Opera	The hermit on the Alps	P. v. Bene Verin, 1 elevator	J. Weigl	June 13th, 1810 Vienna, Kärntnertortheater
Shepherd game	The nightingale and the raven	Lafontaine et al. Etienne, 1 elevator	J. Weigl	April 20, 1818 Vienna, Court Theater
Singspiel	Edmund and Caroline	BJ Marsoillier the Elder V.	J. Weigl	October 21, 1821 Vienna, Kärntnertortheater
Weird opera	The two Figaro	Marvelli, 2 elevators	Conradin Kreutzer	August 12, 1840 Braunschweig
Singspiel	The tin caster	GF Treitschke, 2 elevators	A. Gyrowetz	08/27/1808 Weimar (Lauchstätt near Weimar)
Opera	Fernando and Marie	GF Treitschke, 5 files	P. Wranitzky	June 11th, 1808 Vienna, Burgtheater
Opera	Fidelio	J.-N. Bouilly, Joseph Sonnleithner , GF Treitschke, 2 elevators	Ludwig van Beethoven	May 23, 1814 Vienna, Kärntnertortheater
Magic opera	The magic bell	to Theaulon, F.Treitschke 3 elevators	F. Herold Franz Schubert	06/20/1821
Opera	The intrigue through the windows	Isouard, Dubaty, Bouilly, 1 elevator	Nicolo de Malthe	Vienna 1806
Opera	Caesar on Pharmacusca	Carlo Prospero Defranceschi, 2 elevators	A. Salieri	October 22nd, 1808 Vienna, Theater an der Wien
Opera	Romulus and Remus	GFTreitschke	Johann E. Fuss	9.9.1816 Vienna

literature

• Entry Treitschke, Georg Friedrich, in Constant von Wurzbach , Biographisches Lexikon des Kaiserthums Oesterreich , Volume 47, pp. 101f., Vienna 1883, ( literature.at )
• Max Mendheim :  Treitschke, Georg Friedrich . In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 38, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1894, p. 558.
• Ulrike Arbter: Georg Friedrich Treitschke, Beethoven's third “Fidelio” librettist in Vienna. Diss. Mach. Vienna 1997.
• Helga Lühning: Leonore and Fidelio. A synoptic comparison. - On the genesis of Leonore and Fidelio. Timetable. - B or H? About Beethoven's revisions to the quartet “Er diebe”. In: International Beethoven Festival 1997. The book for the program. Bonn 1997.
• Till Gerrit Waidelich: Conradin Kreutzer's The Two Figaro (Vienna 1840). Links to older patterns and current tendencies of the Opéra “comique” and “buffa” in the continuation of a tried and tested subject, in: Irmlind Capelle (ed.), Albert Lortzing and the conversation opera […], Munich 2004, pp. 173–214.
• Andrea Singer: Conradin Kreutzer's comic opera The Two Figaro. A successful continuation of Il barbiere di Siviglia and Le nozze di Figaro? Master's thesis, University of Vienna 2013 ( othes.univie.ac.at PDF).
• Margarete Zihrasser: Georg Friedrich Treitschke and its importance for the Viennese court theater . Dissertation. University of Vienna, Vienna 1950.

Web links

Wikiquote: Georg Friedrich Treitschke  - Quotes

• Literature by and about Georg Friedrich Treitschke in the catalog of the German National Library
• Works by and about Georg Friedrich Treitschke  in the German Digital Library
• Works by Georg Friedrich Treitschke at Zeno.org .

Individual evidence

1. ^ Georg Geßner in New German Biography
2. ↑ Ferdinand Ochsenheimer / Friedrich Treitschke: 'The butterflies of Europe'. Leipzig, 1807-1835, 10 vol. In the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania digital library