Franz von Suppé

Franz von Suppé (1819-1895) was a Croatian-born Austrian composer of operettas, a contemporary and rival of Offenbach. Although Suppé's father wanted him to study law, he launched a career in music with help from a distant relative, Gaetano Donizetti, and developed a strong interest in composing works for the Viennese stage. While he is remembered most today for his popular overtures Poet and Peasant, and Light Cavalry, Suppé composed many tuneful operettas that were once steadily performed, including Boccaccio, The Beautiful Galatea, and Fatinitza. Outside of operettas, Suppé's output includes a Requiem mass, vocal music, and several concert overtures.