Lot 86: DRESDEN 1679 -- [HARMS, Johann Oswald, producer (not after 1643-1708).] Opera-Ballet Von dem Judicio Paridis, Und der Helenae Raub, So auf dem Churfürstlichen Sächssischen Haupt-Theatro Bey dem angestellten Friedens-Feste, Nebenst denen

DRESDEN 1679 -- [HARMS, Johann Oswald, producer (not after 1643-1708).] Opera-Ballet Von dem Judicio Paridis, Und der Helenae Raub, So auf dem Churfürstlichen Sächssischen Haupt-Theatro Bey dem angestellten Friedens-Feste, Nebenst denen vorgegangenen Ballete von Wirckung der sieben Planeten, Ring- und Quintan-Rennen, wie auch Büchsen-Schiessen, Feuerwercke des Herculis, und Fuss-Thurniere, gehalten. Dresden: Widow of the Court Printer to the Prince-Elector, [1680].

2o (285 x 175 mm). Collation: \Kp\k2 (1 title, 2=final leaf I1), A-H2 I1(=\Kp\k2), 10 folded etched plates unsigned, but by HARMS after his own designs. (Small tears in first and last plates, most plates slightly cut into at one or more of the edges, some browning.) Modern boards. Provenance: Sotheby's London, 15 May 1979, lot 63.

The illustrated libretto of an opera-ballet lavishly produced by the official Court and Theater Painter, JOHANN OSWALD HARMS, in honor of JOHANN GEORG II (1613-80), Elector of Saxony, as part of the peace-festival held at Dresden over 11 days in December 1679, which also featured another ballet, racing, a shooting contest, fencing tournaments, and fireworks. The previous year the artist had completely redecorated the proscenium of the theater, which is shown on the first plate; the other etchings provide unique documentation of the ingenious staging, extravagant sets and costumes of this spectacle, whose author, composer and choreographer remain anonymous. EXTREMELY RARE: apparently not in any of the standard bibliographies. Thieme-Becker XVI, 45; H. Schnorr, Dresden 400 Jahre Deutsche Musikkultur p. 63-64; H. Richter, Johann Oswald Harms (1963) 46ff and p. 209-10 and 234.

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