Anna Amalia of Saxe-Weimar (1739–1807)

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Anna Amalia of Saxe-Weimar (1739–1807)

German composer, patron of the arts, and duchess of Saxe-Weimar who created the Musenhof, or court of muses, known throughout Europe for its rich musical and cultural life. Name variations: Amalia, Duchess of Saxe-Weimar. Born at Wolfenbüttel on October 24, 1739; died in Weimar on April 10, 1807; daughter of

Charles (Karl) I, duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, and Duchess Philippine Charlotte (1716–1801); niece of Frederick II the Great and Anna Amalia of Prussia (1723–1787); married Ernst August Konstantin (Ernst Wilhelm Wolff), duke of Saxe-Weimar, in 1756 (died 1758); children: two sons, including Charles Augustus.

Studied with Friedrich G. Fleischer, organist and composer, and Ernst Wilhelm Wolff; regent of Saxe-Weimar after her husband's death (1758); known for her work in the new German opera genre of the Singspiel; created the Musenhof, or court of muses, known throughout Europe for its rich musical and cultural life.

Duchess Anna Amalia was the namesake and niece of Anna Amalia of Prussia and grew up in the musical court of Brunswick, which was greatly influenced by the Prussian court where her aunt was a composer. At age 18, Anna Amalia married Ernst Wilhelm Wolff, the duke of Saxe-Weimar. Shortly thereafter, she employed the duke to give her private lessons. Composer of 20 Singspiels, a new German opera genre, Wolff influenced the young princess to compose these comic operas, which were a forerunner of 19th-century German Romantic opera. Her entry into composition marked the creation of the Musenhof, or court of muses. Throughout Europe, Saxe-Weimar was known for its rich musical and cultural life. Christoph Martin Wieland (1733–1813), Johann Gottfried von Herder (1744–1803), and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) were all members of the court of muses and supplied libretti or poetry for some of Anna Amalia's compositions. So influential was Anna Amalia in the creation of Singspiel that Johann Adam Hiller (1728–1804), the composer credited with creating the first German Singspiel, dedicated his initial work to her.

Anna Amalia's husband died in 1758, leaving her as regent for their infant son, Charles Augustus. During his protracted minority, she administered the affairs of the duchy with great prudence, strengthening its resources and improving its position despite the troubles of the Seven Years' War.

With these additional duties, she still continued to compose. In 1776, she wrote Erwin und Elmire based on a text by Goethe, and two years later she wrote Das Jahrmarksfest zu Plunderweisen also based on a text by the celebrated poet. By 1775, she had retired into private life, her son having attained his majority. In 1788, she set out on a lengthened tour through Italy, accompanied by Goethe. A memorial of the duchess is included in Goethe's works under the title Zum Andenken der Fürstin Anna-Amalia. As a composer and patron, Anna Amalia was widely known and respected.