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(Maria) Josepha Weber (later Josepha Hofer, Josepha Meier; 1758 – December 29, 1819) was a German soprano of the classical era. She was a sister-in-law of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and the first to perform the role of The Queen of the Night in Mozart's opera ''The Magic Flute'' (1791). ==Life== She was born in Zell im Wiesental, in present-day Baden-Württemberg, Germany, the daughter of Fridolin Weber. She had three younger sisters (in descending order of age): Aloysia, who was an early love interest of Mozart and sang in his later operas; Constanze, who married Mozart in 1782;〔Online ''New Grove'', article "Mozart"〕 and Sophie. The composer Carl Maria von Weber was the son of her father's half brother. Josepha grew up mostly in Mannheim, and moved with her family first to Munich then to Vienna, following the singing career of her sister Aloysia. By 1789 she was the ''prima donna'' in the theatrical troupe run by Johann Friedel at the suburban Theater auf der Wieden.〔Buch (xx, ix)〕 Following Friedel's death in that year, the theater was taken over by Emanuel Schikaneder, who retained her in the new company he formed. She appears to have been an important member of the troupe: the collaborative opera ''Der Stein der Weisen'', a sort of ancestor to ''The Magic Flute'', includes no arias for coloratura soprano because at the time it was written Hofer was on maternity leave.〔Buch xx, xiv)〕 At the (highly successful) premiere of ''The Magic Flute'' in 1791, Hofer took the role of the Queen of the Night, a famously demanding coloratura part. She continued to perform this role until 1801, when she relinquished it at age 43. Hofer also premiered other roles. She was again the Queen of the Night in Schikaneder and Winter's sequel to ''The Magic Flute'', ''Das Labyrinth oder der Kampf mit den Elementen'' (1798). She was also the first to perform the role of Oberon in Paul Wranitzky’s opera (1789). She married twice. Her first husband (married 21 July 1788 in St. Stephen's Cathedral〔Deutsch 1965, 321〕) was the musician Franz de Paula Hofer (1755–96). Hofer was employed as a violinist at the Imperial court.〔Deutsch (1965, 321) gives 1789 as the starting date of Hofer's employment; however, a document discussed by Michael Lorenz on his blog (()) indicates he was already employed there as of 21 July 1788.〕 Her second husband (1797) was the singer Sebastian Meier (1773–1835). Meier was the first to perform the role of Pizarro in Beethoven's opera ''Fidelio''. Josepha Meier retired from singing in 1805, and died in Vienna on December 29, 1819. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Josepha Weber」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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