The Singspiel, German for "play with singing," originated in the mid 16th century with upcoming Austrian and German composers. During this period numerous comic singspiel compositions were produced. The singspiel as we know it today better describes the Austrian-German light operas of spoken dialogue from the 19th century.
During this time the Italian opera remained hugely successful and popular in Vienna and all over Europe with composers and audiences alike. In the 1770s Austrian Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II formed the 'German National Singspiel Company' as more or less a pet project for performances of Italian opera type styles but in the German language. His project was mostly a failure but did produce some successes. The initative inspired German composer Wolfgang Mozart to write two of the most brilliant singspiele works to date, 'The Abduction from the Seraglio' and his renowned 'The Magic Flute' toward the end of the century.
The Singspiel remained largely popular in Italy's capital up until the mid-19th century. It was then that Johann Strauss II composed several operettas which kind of downplayed the original singspiel style in comparison. Other composers of the region too would follow his lead.
Classical Singspiel
'The Magic Flute'
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 1791
Classical Singspiel
'Fidelio'
Composed by Ludwig Von Beethoven 1805
1752
1768
1773
1779
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1786
1791
1796
1805
1820
1928
'Die schöne Schusterin oder' (Die pucefarbenen Schuhe)
Ignaz Umlauf
