Records of Catholic Musicians, Actors and Dancers at the Court of August II, 1723–32: the Establishment of the Catholic Cemetery in Dresden

Abstract

In 1724 a cemetery was established at Neustadt Ostra (today Friedrichstadt, Alt Dresden) for the burial of Catholic members who served at the Dresden court of Saxon Elector Friedrich August I (‘der Starke’: as King of Poland known as August II). Between 1723 and 1732 annual lists were compiled of these Catholic employees, their family members and servants, by the Royal Polish and Saxon Electoral office of the Court Marshal. These chronicles, which function as a type of census, give details of Catholic artists affiliated with the Dresden court. Listed are those who were eligible to be buried in the Catholic cemetery. Included are complete lists of the families and households of Catholic members of the Italian and French ensembles of actors, dancers and musicians (the Italienische Comoedianten and Französische Comoedianten und Tänzer), of the Catholic musicians of Dresden's outstanding Capelle (also known as the Hofkapelle), and of the young choristers (mostly from Bohemia) who performed the usual music in the Catholic court church of Dresden. Additional information becomes available about the throng of outstanding performing artists from throughout Europe who came to serve at the court of a charismatic ruler, one whose taste made Dresden one of the most brilliant artistic centres of the age.