Franz von Suppé

Dichter und Bauer

The composer of Belgian-Italian descendance Francesco Ezechiele Ermenegildo Cavaliere Suppé-Demelli (1819-1895) was active as a conductor especially in Vienna. He wrote some thirty operettas among which 'The beautiful Galathea', 'Pique Dame', 'Light Cavalry' and 'Bocaccio'. His most famous overture 'Poet and Peasant' was part of some theatre music written for the comedy 'Dichter und Bauer' by Karl Elmar. Some adequate opening music was needed for the premiere performance in Vienna in August 1846. The poet asked the young conductor Franz von Suppé who accepted in spite of the very short term available. Actually, he rearranged some music that had already been performed without success. The music publisher Josef Aibl was present at the premiere perfomance and was so overwhelmed by this music that he immediately bought the publishing rights for the ridiculous sum of eight guilders. Being short of money, Suppé accepted but he bitterly regretted for the rest of his life as the publisher printed numerous editions and sold no less than 52 different arrangements. The story deals with the lack of understanding of a guardian for his pupil who does not abandon her lover. Though he is a peasant, that young man is also an excellent poet who even beats a poet from the city at a literary duel. This, of course, makes his prestige even bigger with the girl. Finally all ends well thanks to an old peasant. It has often been pretended that the international success of this overture is largely due to the many wind band arrangements.