Amalie, Princess of Saxony

Amalie Marie Friederike Auguste was born August 10, 1794 and died September 18, 1870. [Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians. Nicolas Slonimsky. New York : Schrimer Books 2001. Vol. 1 page 67] She lived her entire life in Pillnitz Castle in Dresden, Germany. She was a well-educated and intellectually curious woman who composed chamber music, opera, and sacred music, sang, wrote comedies, and played the harpsichord. [Women in World History: A Biographical Encyclopedia. Woodbridge, CT : Yorkin, 1999. Vol. 1. page 254-255. ] Amalie was a young girl during the time of the Napoleonic wars and had to flee from her castle several times. She and her family were forced to sleep on straw wherever they could find shelter. She met Napoleon several times and held a negative opinion of him. When Napoleon told her he was going to invade Austria, she shot back a clever retort. [The Princess Amalie of Saxony and Napoleon. New York Times. May 13,1883]

Her Musical Career:

Amalie began writing music in 1816 and composed numerous operas, popular among the Dresden elite. She published her works under the pseudonyms Amalie Heiter and Amalie Serena. Her best compositions were her comedic operas. She was able to portray her characters with innovation and color. [Women in World History: A Biographical Encyclopedia. Woodbridge, CT : Yorkin, 1999. Vol. 1. page 254-255.]

Amalie studied with Joesph Schuster, Vincenzo Rastrelli, Johann Miksch, Franz Anton Schubert and Carl Maria von Weber. Weber found her "highly talented." [The Norton/Grove Dictionary of Women Composers. Eva Rieger. New York : W.W. Norton and Company, 1995. Page 12.]

Her works

*1816
**Una Donna
**Le tre cinture
**Le nozze funeste
*1820
**Il pigioniere
**L'Americana
*1821
**Elvira
*1823
**Elisa ed Ernesto
*1826
**La fedelta alla prova
*1828
**Vecciezza e gioventu
*1831
**Il figlio pentitio
*1834
**Il marchesino
**Die Siegesfahne
*1835
**La casa disabiata [The Norton/Grove Dictionary of Women Composers. Eva Rieger. New York : W.W. Norton and Company, 1995. Page 12.]

References:

#Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians. Nicolas Slonimsky. New York : Schrimer Books 2001. Vol. 1 page 67
#Women in World History: A Biographical Encyclopedia. Woodbridge, CT : Yorkin, 1999. Vol. 1. page 254-255
#The Princess Amalie of Saxony and Napoleon. New York Times. May 13,1883
#Women in World History: A Biographical Encyclopedia. Woodbridge, CT : Yorkin, 1999. Vol. 1. page 254-255.
#The Norton/Grove Dictionary of Women Composers. Eva Rieger. New York : W.W. Norton and Company, 1995. Page 12.

References