Little known Kalkbrenner (the irony)

[kolaboy]

In view of the upcoming RPC release (mentioned in the new releases thread) I'm just wondering why Kalkbrenner's Concerto for 2 Pianos, Op.125 has yet to be considered for recording.  Not only that, FK wrote three operas - one of which is titled "Bluff (op.36)." I hope by some miracle that I live long enough to experience "Bluff." I just can't imagine a Kalkbrenner opera, anymore than I can imagine a piano concerto by Sibelius, or a bolero by Mendelssohn... all the more reason it should be explored.

[eschiss1]

Op.36 also seems to be attached to his Élégie harmonique, which is a little confusing? Also, in the Wikipedia/Klassika opus list, two of the works attributed to Kalkbrenner have the same titles as operas composed by Krenek; the opus number of one of them (Sprung) is the opus number of the other in Krenek's worklist (Krenek's Op.17 - Sprung - Kalkbrenner's Op.17 - Orpheus); ... something seems very off and sloppily researched here. I find no evidence in scores or 19th century sources of these works offhand, though I'm in a hurry right this moment.

Stanford's Operagate lists one opera by Christian Kalkbrenner and none by Friedrich, besides...

[semloh]

Thanks for that, Eric.
Obviously, some careful research is needed.

[eschiss1]

I've emailed klassika...

[JimL]

Be careful not to forget that Friedrich's son Christian was also a composer.

[BerlinExpat]

Grove states that Friedrich was Christian's son!

The same source reveals that the Kalkbrenner "finds"  noted above are the first three stage works by Ernst Krenek:
Der Sprung über den Schatten, op 17 (comic opera)
Orpheus und Eurydike, op.  21 (opera)
Bluff, op. 26 (musical comedy)

[eschiss1]

Grove's is right.
Christian Kalkbrenner: 1755-1806
Friedrich Kalkbrenner: 1785-1849

It's always possible that Friedrich, too, had a son named Christian who was a composer as well, because why should anything be clear and unconfusing (qv "Fr. Baumfelder".)

Christian Kalkbrenner has only one opera attributed to him - Olimpie - that I know of- but Friedrich Kalkbrenner's proximity on a webpage to Ernst Krenek might help explain the confusion along with some carelessness... maybe, don't know...

[JimL]

I believe that is the case, and Friedrich named his son after his own father.

[kolaboy]

Well truth is truth - but I am a bit let down, must admit. Speaking of Friedrich's father, I believe he did a bit of composing; I remember reading (perhaps Grove) that he was responsible for a pastiche or two...

[eschiss1]

yes- the elder Christian Kalkbrenner had several published works including a set of keyboard sonatas (pub. ca.1783-5, so definitely published by the elder Christian Kalkbrenner, as his son- father of the younger Christian Kalkbrenner- was ca.one year old give or take! at the time), an opera Olimpie premiered in 1798, and other works including yes some collaborative works and pastiches.