Carl Heinrich Graun
The defining German opera composer of his age, whose serious and graceful works set the musical tone for Frederick the Great's Berlin.
1701–1759 (age 58)·German composer and tenor·Birthday: May 7
Biography
In the intellectual ferment of Frederick the Great's court, Carl Heinrich Graun provided the soundtrack. A singer of remarkable ability before he was a noted composer, Graun's clear, expressive tenor voice first brought him notice. His career became inextricably linked with the Prussian king, a passionate flutist and composer himself, who appointed Graun as his Kapellmeister in Berlin. There, Graun established the German *opera seria*, composing works in Italian that balanced melodic elegance with dramatic gravity. His masterpiece, 'Cleopatra e Cesare', inaugurated the Berlin Opera House in 1742. Beyond the stage, his sacred music, particularly the poignant 'Der Tod Jesu' Passion oratorio, remained a staple of German liturgical music for over a century. Graun's style, less contrapuntally dense than Bach's and more restrained than Handel's, embodied the emerging *Empfindsamkeit* (sensitive style), making him a central figure in the transition between Baroque and Classical eras in Northern Germany.
#1 When Carl Was Born
The biggest hits of 1701
Carl's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1701Born
1706Started school
1714Became a teenager
1717Could drive
1719Could vote
1722Turned 21
1731Turned 30
1741Turned 40
1751Turned 50
1759Died at 58
Key Achievements
- Composed the opera 'Cleopatra e Cesare' for the 1742 opening of the Berlin State Opera house.
- Served as the Kapellmeister for Frederick the Great from 1740 until his death.
- His Passion oratorio 'Der Tod Jesu' was performed annually in Berlin for well over a century.
- Wrote over 30 operas, primarily in the Italian *opera seria* style, for the Prussian court.
- His treatise on singing technique was influential for German vocal pedagogy in the 18th century.
Did You Know?
His brother, Johann Gottlieb Graun, was also a prominent composer and violinist at Frederick's court.
Frederick the Great often supplied the libretti and even detailed musical ideas for Graun's operas.
He began his career as a tenor in the Brunswick court opera, singing many of his own leading roles early on.
Despite writing in Italian, there is no evidence he ever traveled to Italy, learning the style from scores and singers.
His singing voice was reportedly so fine that he was once offered a position in Dresden but was not released from his contract.
“The voice must serve the melody, not ornament it.”
