Josef Starzer (Štarzer) (Josef Starzer) |

Josef Starzer

Born in 1726 in Vienna. Austrian composer and violinist, representative of the early Viennese school. From 1769 he worked in St. Petersburg (accompanist of the court theater).

He is the author of many orchestral, violin and other compositions. He wrote music for many ballets, including those staged by J. J. Noverre in Vienna: Don Quixote (1768), Roger and Bradamante (1772), The Five Sultans (1772), Adele Pontier and Dido” (1773), “Horaces and Curiatii” (based on the tragedy by P. Corneille, 1775). In addition, the author of music for a number of ballets staged in Russia: “The Return of Spring, or the Victory of Flora over Boreas” (1760), “Acis and Galatea” (1764). The themes of Starzer’s ballets are diverse and cover mythological, historical, idyllic, romantic subjects.

Starzer widely used the techniques of melodrama: in fantastic scenes he used the means developed in Italian and French opera.

His ballets Horace and Theseus in Crete enjoyed particular success, and The Return of Spring, or the Victory of Flora over Boreas, was for the 1th century. the same as “Zephyr and Flora” Didlot – for the XNUMXst quarter of the XNUMXth century.