Ignaz Umlauf Explained

Ignaz Umlauf (1746-1796) was an Austrian composer. He was Kapellmeister of the new German National Singspiel of Emperor Joseph II beginning from 1778 to his death. His son Michael Umlauf (1781-1842) was also a notable composer, and his daughter Elisabeth, mother of the composer Gustav Hölzel, was an operatic contralto.

Works

• Die Bergknappen Singspiel in 1778, featuring Caterina Cavalieri, and the first Singspiel by an Austrian composer to be performed in Vienna.
• Die schöne Schusterin - notable for two extra arias "O welch' ein Leben," for tenor, (WoO 91/1) and "Soll ein Schuh nicht drücken" (WoO 91/2) composed by Beethoven for insertion into the Singspiel's revival in 1795.^[1]

Notes and References

1. Thayer's Life of Beethoven - Volume 1 Alexander Wheelock Thayer, Elliot Forbes, Henry Edward Krehbiel - 1991 - Page 194 "The two songs composed by Beethoven are an arietta, or rather strophic song, "O welch' ein Leben," for tenor