Die Kreuzfahrer

Die Kreuzfahrer ("The crusaders") is an epic German play by five acts August von Kotzebue (1761-1819)[1]

The original text

Probably performed in Berlin in 1802 and editions published by Bloch (1802), Frank (1803) and Kummer, Leipzig (1803 and 1809)

Translations and adaptations

Translated into Dutch as De Kruisvaarders ("The crusaders") by J.S. van Esveldt Holtrop and and published by W. Holtrop, Amsterdam, 1803. Performed in the Koninklijke Nederduitsche Schouwburg ("Royal Dutch Theatre") at the Hague in 1804.

Louis Spohr (1784-1859)[2] wrote an opera called Die Kreuzfahrer, based on the German text of Von Kotzebue's play, first performed in 1844 in Kassel.

Performance history in South Africa

1872: Produced in Dutch by Door Yver Bloeit de Kunst as De Kruisvaarders in the Odd Fellows Hall, Cape Town, on 29 October, rounded off with a ballet performance.

Sources

Facsimile version of the 1803 German edition by Kummer, Google E-book [3]

Facsimile version of the Dutch edition of 1803 by Holtrop, Google E-book [4]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_von_Kotzebue

Gerd Aage Gillhoff. 2013. The Royal Dutch Theatre at the Hague 1804–1876. Springer:p, 191, Google E-book [5]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Spohr

D.C. Boonzaier, 1923. "My playgoing days – 30 years in the history of the Cape Town stage", in SA Review, 9 March and 24 August 1932. (Reprinted in Bosman 1980: pp. 374-439.)

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: p.448

Go to ESAT Bibliography