music dramas by Richard Wagner. But the couple could not prevent the business from closing its doors on 1 April 1855. Despite all efforts, the earnings were far beneath the costs of operation.

One of the creditors, the entrepreneur Heinrich Bergmann, took over the insolvent operation and brought in well known musicians including Jacques Offenbach for one of his first guest appearances in Berlin. In 1862 however, "Kroll" was again forced into auction, which