Benedict, SIR JULIUS

Benedict, SIR JULIUS, a musician and composer, German by birth, but after 1836 resident in England. Born November 27, 1804, at Stuttgart, where his father was a Jewish banker, he studied first under Hummel at Weimar, and afterwards under Weber at Dresden. On Weber's recommendation, he was, in 1824, made musical director of the German Opera, Vienna; and he afterwards was appointed to the conductorship of the San Carlo Theatre in Naples. While in Naples, he produced an opera buffa called Giacinta ed Ernesto, and an opera seria, I Portoghesi in Goa. Both were too German to suit the Italian taste, but later they were well received at Stuttgart. In Paris, and afterwards (1835) in London, he appeared with great success as a pianist. In 1836 he took up his permanent residence in London, and was, during that year, director of the opera buffa at the Lyceum, where he produced an operetta, composed in Naples, Un Anno ed un Giorno. Turning his attention afterwards to English opera, he composed The Gipsy's Warning (1838), The Brides of Venice (1844), and The Crusaders (1846), three works which, translated into German, have been well received in the composer's native country. He conducted the opera in Covent Garden Theatre in 1843 and 1844, and the Norwich Musical Festival in 1845, and thereafter conducted the Monday Popular and numerous other concerts and great musical gatherings in London and in the provinces, besides being a successful pianoforte teacher. In 1850 he conducted at Jenny Lind's concerts in America. In 1860 he produced a cantata, Undine, at the Norwich Musical Festival, which was very well received. His Lily of Killarney, first given in 1862 at Covent Garden, was his greatest operatic success. He produced a cantata, Richard Cœur de Lion (1863); an opera di camera, The Bride of Song (1864); and the cantatas St Cecilia (1866) and Graziella (1882). His oratorio, St Peter, written for the Birmingham Musical Festival, 1870, was perhaps his masterpiece; it met with extraordinary success. His first symphony also was received with great favour in 1873. His music possesses abundance of fresh and pleasing melody, and shows the hand of a consummate master, without, however, any very pronounced individuality of style. In his earlier works the score owed something to Rossini, but his later compositions betray more of the influence of his master, Weber. In style and feeling, however, they are singularly English to be the composition of a foreigner. He was knighted in 1871, was a corresponding member of the French Academy, and received decorations from almost every country on the Continent. He died in London, June 5, 1885.