Ein deutsches Opernballett des siebzehnten Jahrhunderts. Ein Beitrag zur Frühgeschichte der deutschen Oper - Bittrich, Gerhard 1906-? (Leipzig Frommhold & Wendler, 1931)
Ballet von Zusammenkunfft und Wirckung derer VII Planeten Auff Ihr. Churfürstl. Durchl. zu Sachs. grossem Theatro gehalten Den 3. Februar 1678
In February 1678, Elector John George II of Saxony organised a four-week festival known as the ‘Most Illustrious Gathering’ to mark a family reunion. The programme of events devised by Domenico Melani, including parades, riding tournaments, banquets, operas and masquerades, was linked by a continuous storyline that depicted the powerful influence of the stars on earthly fortunes and the resulting beneficial effects on the Elector's reign. The planetary ballet performed on 3 February 1678 under the title ‘Musicalische Opera und Ballet von Wirckung der Sieben Planeten’ (‘Musical Opera and Ballet of the Conjunction of the Seven Planets’) marked the start of the festival. The stage decorations were created by Johann Oswald Harms, who included them in nine etchings in two publications, namely in the libretto by Constantin Christian Dedekind published in 1678 and in the festival chronicle published in Nuremberg in 1680 and written by Gabriel Tzschimmer.
Probable composer of this Opera-Ballet "The Seven Planets" is Christoph Bernhard or/and Giovanni Andrea Bontempi.
Setdesign by Johann Oswald Harms (1643-1708)
Libretto by Constantin Christian Dedekind (1628-1715)
https://www.deutschefotothek.de/documents/obj/90111089
Keywords: Bernhard, Christoph -- 1627-1692; Bontempi, Giovanni Andrea -- 1624-1705; Dedekind, Constantin Christian -- 1628-1715; Johann Georg II Elector of Saxony, 1656 to 1680 -- 1613-1680; 17th Century (1601-1700); Opera; Court; Patronage; Ballet; Entrée; Ballet de cour; Music history; Dresden (Germany)