A Royal Musical Soiree

[Kalafrana]

We've had royal dinner parties, so now it's time for gatherings of musical royalty and their court composers and protogees.

Let us begin with Boris III of Bulgaria and the great bass Boris Christoff. As a young lawyer in Sofia, Christoff belonged to the Gusla Male Choir. King Boris and Queen Giovanna invited the choir to perform at the palace. Christoff sang a solo, and Boris was so impressed that he provided him with the funds to study in Italy. I'm not sure whether Boris played any instruments, but Queen Giovanna can accompany Christoff on the piano.

I must also invite the philistine christian Ludwig, Margrave of Brandenburg, and JS Bach, whom he turned down as court composer AFTER Bach had written the Brandenburg Concertos to show him what he could do!

Ann

[TimM]

Sounds like a fun bash!

[Kalafrana]

Christoff is best known for very serious roles, such as Boris Godunov, and Philip II in Don Carlos. However, he did have a sense of humour, and there is a recording of him singing a suggestive  Russian folk song about chatting up 'an initially hesitant maiden named Nastasia', where he is very clearly enjoying himself.

We could also invite Frederick the Great, and his regular accompanist, CPE Bach.

Ann

[JamesAPrattIII]

King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand is quite musicaly tallanted from what I have read.

[Kalafrana]

He has also reigned even longer than the Queen, but hasn't been seen in public for years.

Any idea what he plays?

Ann

[JamesAPrattIII]

According to his wiki bio and what I have read about him HM is a accomplished jazz saxophone player and composer and plays a number of other instruments as well.

[Kalafrana]

Sounds good. Let's hope he can be persuaded to leave his palace and join the gathering.

George Frederick Handel must attend, of course, with George I and George II, but father and son were on seriously bad terms, so we as organisers will have to take steps to keep them from a shouting match.

Ann

[TimM]

I'll bring the beer.

[Kalafrana]

Thank you, Tim.

Meanwhile, it looks as though the King of Thailand will decline the invitation. The Times reports today that he is in very fragile health and has spent the last two years in hospital.

Shall we substitute Tsar Alexander III, who played the trumpet and formed a brass ensemble with some of his friends?

Ann

[JamesAPrattIII]

I believe Alexandra, Olga and Tatania could all play the piano very well.

QEII's younger sister I believe was also musically talented.

[Kalafrana]

Yes, Princess Margaret was a pianist.

Ann

[TimM]

So we have our band now.  Excellent.

[Nictionary]

One possibility would be to invite J.S. Bach along with Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Cöthen, the only one of Bach’s employers to truly recognize his genius.  The prince himself was a master on the viola da gamba (forerunner to the cello) who sometimes joined his court orchestra while Bach conducted.  Leopold would have to be invited with his 1st wife, since his 2nd wife did not share her husband’s interest in music and prompted him to neglect and eventually disband his orchestra.  Bach’s favorite drinks were Rhine wine and Gose beer, so we would have to have those on hand.

Other possible guests:
Giovanni Palestrina and Pope Julius III
Claudio Monteverdi and Duke Vincenzo I of Mantua
Heinrich Schütz and Johann Georg I of Saxony
Haydn and Prince Nikolaus Esterhazy
Mozart and Emperor Joseph II
Beethoven and Archduke Rudolph
Brahms and Prince Lippe-Detmold
Luigi Boccherini and Frederick William II of Prussia
Arcangelo Corelli and Cardinal Ottoboni

[TimM]

What food should we have.  I don't think burgers and pizzas will cut it here.

[Kalafrana]

How sad that Leopold of Anhalt-Kothen died of smallpox aged only  34. He was either madly in love with his second wife or she was very domineering.

As to food, we could include tournedos Rossini, chicken Tetrazzini and peach Melba.

Ann