The Singer Antonelli

Centering on the figure of Antonelli, whose melodic gifts grant him transient access to aristocratic salons but little lasting security, the text hints at conflicts between authentic artistic expression and the compromises demanded by survival, potentially examining the singer’s relationship with figures like the Countess or the skeptical Chamberlain. Though lacking resolution, its value resides in its atmospheric portrayal of the eighteenth-century performer’s precarious existence, serving as a minor but resonant counterpoint to Goethe’s more extensive treatments of the artist’s role, capturing the ephemeral nature of fame and the quiet desperation beneath the entertainer’s public persona.

This critical reader's edition offers a fresh, modern translation of the original manuscript in Fraktur (the old German script), designed to help any curious reader delve into Goethe's works, using clear, contemporary language and straightforward sentences to illuminate his complex ideas. It includes supplementary material providing autobiographical, historical, and linguistic context to this 18th century work- including an afterword by the translator discussing Goethe’s history, impact, and intellectual legacy, alongside an index of the philosophical concepts he explored—with a focus on Romanticism and Classicism. Included is a comprehensive chronological list of his published writings and a detailed timeline of his life, highlighting the personal relationships that profoundly influenced his philosophy.