FLOTOW, FRIEDRICH, BARON (FREIHERR) VON

born April 26, 1812, Teutendorf, near Lbeck, French Empire [now in Germany] died Jan. 24, 1883, Darmstadt, Ger. German-born French composer best known for his opera Martha. Originally intended for a diplomatic career, Flotow studied music in Paris with Anton Reicha from the age of 16. Forced to leave Paris during the July Revolution of 1830, he went home but returned to Paris in 1831. In 1837 he produced a first, brief version of the opera Alessandro Stradella, which later, in its complete form, enjoyed great success. In 1839 he collaborated with Albert Grisar and Auguste Pilati on Le Naufrage de la Mduse (The Wreck of the Medusa). Between 1840 and 1878 he produced 19 light operas. Martha (1847) was originally a ballet entitled Lady Henriette that was first performed at the Paris Opra in 1844. Appealing by its melodic charm, Martha won a place in the operatic repertory. Flotow also wrote ballets for the court theatre at Schwerin, of which he was director (185563), and incidental music for William Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale.