> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://andersmuskens.art/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Franz Danzi: Cleopatra – Staging the Heroine, Leiden
- URL: https://andersmuskens.art/concerts/franz-danzi-cleopatra-staging-the-heroine-leiden/
- Published: 2026-06-03T18:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-11-10T16:08:05.000Z
- Description: Wednesday, 3 June 2026 · 20:00 · Waalse Kerk, Leiden
- Author: Anders Muskens
- Tags: #event

An experimental revival of **Franz Danzi’s** (1763–1826) melodrama *Cleopatra* (Mannheim, 1780), to a text by Johann Leopold Neumann (1745–1813), with the **Dutch Historical Acting Collective** and **Anders Muskens** at the fortepiano. Marking the bicentenary of Danzi’s death, the performance was part of the international conference *Staging the Heroine: The Construction and Performance of Female Heroism in Literature, the Visual Arts and Theatre (c. 1350–1800)* at Leiden University (3–5 June 2026).

The drama shows the final hours of Cleopatra’s life in pathos-laden *Sturm und Drang* monologues: Alexandria is under siege, Antony has gone to face the Roman army, and Cleopatra confronts the collapse of her reign. The performance drew on historical acting and declamation sources, in a reduced version with fortepiano adapted from Danzi’s orchestral score. The title role was first played by Sophie Seyler (née Hensel) of the Seyler Theatre Company.

**Performers**  
Laila Cathleen Neuman, João Luís Paixão, Jed Wentz, Annelies Andries – spoken actors  
Anders Muskens – fortepiano  
Jed Wentz – moderator

**Venue**  
Waalse Kerk, Breestraat 62–64, Leiden. Admission free, open to all.

[Staging the Heroine conference](https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/events/2026/06/staging-the-heroine-conference?ref=andersmuskens.art) · [About the project](https://andersmuskens.art/news/reviving-franz-danzis-cleopatra-in-leiden/)