Rinaldo Rinaldini

Rinaldo Rinaldini is a character in the 3 volume melodramatic German novel Rinaldo Rinaldini, der Räuberhauptmann ("Rinaldo Rinaldini, the Robber Captain") by Christian August Vulpius (1762–1827)[1].

The novel was adapted for the stage in various ways and under a number of titles, though most often simply referred to as Rinaldo Rinaldini.

The original text

The melodramatic and romantic German novel Rinaldo Rinaldini, der Räuberhauptmann ("Rinaldo Rinaldini, the Robber Captain") by Christian August Vulpius (1762–1827), and much indebted to Schiller's Die Räuber, was published in Leipzig in 1797 or 1798.

Translated into Dutch as Rinaldo Rinaldini, Overste der Roovers, published in Amsterdam by G.Roos in 1807.

Translated into English as The History of Rinaldo Rinaldini, Captain of Banditti by I.Hinkley, published by Perry, New York, in 1848.

Stage adaptations and translations

Both 3 and 4 act German adaptations versions by Vulius himself are listed between 1799 and 1801, entitled Rinaldo Rinaldini, der Räuberhauptmann in some cases or Rinaldo Rinaldini, Ein Schauspiel in a version published in 1801.

The Vulpius version was translated into Dutch as Rinaldo Rinaldini and published in Amsterdam by G.Roos in 1803.

Adapted for the stage as an English "grand ballet of action" called Rinaldo Rinaldini, or The Secret Avengers by John Cartwright Cross, first performed at the Royal Circus , Surrey, and published by T. Barker in London in 1801. In this version, all the words were sung.

Adapted for the stage in English as Rinaldo Rinaldini, a melodrama in two acts, by Thomas Egerton Wilks. Published in 1835.

Adapted for the stage as a German five act play by August von Kotzebue as Rinaldo Rinaldini, der große Räuberhauptmann in Calabrien and first performed the Privilegirtes Theater in Düsseldorf and Aachen; published in Düsseldorf 1820.

South African performances of adapted versions

1823: A Dutch version ("from the German" and tentatively ascribed to "Vulpius?" by Bosman, but may possibly have been the Kotzebue version) was performed as Rinaldo Rinaldini by Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense in the African Theatre, Cape Town, on 23 August and

1823: The Dutch version repeated on 13 September by Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense in the African Theatre, Cape Town.

1870: Performed in the Dutch version by Door Yver Bloeit de Kunst in the Oddfellows' Hall, Cape Town, on 23 June (with Solide Menschen by Van Buuren and ballet items), repeated 7 July and circa 21 July.