Franz Danzi

Franz Danzi (1763-1826) was an Italian-German composer who bridged the late Classical and early Romantic periods, became popular for his operas and was regarded as a strong influence on fellow composer Carl Maria von Weber. A kapellmeister who provided music for church and theater at several German courts, Danzi also wrote much orchestral, chamber, and vocal music. He achieved some fame for his opera Iphigenie in Aulis, which featured continuous music without dialogue and anticipated the through-composed music dramas of Richard Wagner. Otherwise, Danzi's music was mostly cast in conservative Classical forms, though its chromatic harmonies were considered advanced for the time.