Role

:

Composer

Country

:

Germany

Birth

:

November 25, 1752 in Königsberg, Germany

Death

:

June 27, 1814 in Giebichenstein

Period

:

Classical

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Choral

 

 

Vocal

 

Johann Friedrich Reichardt was a German composer, conductor, and music critic who lived from 1752 to 1814. He was born in Königsberg, Prussia, to a family of musicians. His father, Johann Friedrich Reichardt Sr., was a composer and music director, and his mother, Johanna Dorothea, was a singer. Reichardt showed an early talent for music and began studying piano and composition with his father at a young age. Reichardt's musical education continued at the University of Königsberg, where he studied philosophy and music theory. He also studied with the composer Johann Joachim Quantz in Berlin. In 1775, Reichardt moved to Leipzig, where he became a music critic for the Allgemeine Deutsche Bibliothek, a literary journal. He also began composing operas, songs, and instrumental music. One of Reichardt's most famous works is his opera "Erwin und Elmire," which premiered in 1775. The opera is based on a play by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and tells the story of a young couple who must overcome obstacles to be together. The opera was well-received and helped establish Reichardt's reputation as a composer. In 1780, Reichardt was appointed Kapellmeister (music director) at the court of Prince Heinrich of Prussia in Rheinsberg. He held this position for 12 years and composed a great deal of music for the court, including operas, cantatas, and instrumental music. He also conducted the court orchestra and taught music to the prince's children. During his time in Rheinsberg, Reichardt became friends with the writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, who was also a frequent visitor to the court. Reichardt set many of Goethe's poems to music, including the famous "Wandrers Nachtlied" ("Wanderer's Night Song"). He also composed music for Goethe's play "Egmont." In 1792, Reichardt moved to Berlin, where he became the director of the Royal Opera. He held this position for six years and composed several operas for the company, including "Die Geisterinsel" ("The Island of Spirits") and "Die beiden Königskinder" ("The Two Royal Children"). He also continued to write music criticism and was a vocal advocate for the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who had died in 1791. Reichardt's later years were marked by personal tragedy. His wife, Luise, died in 1800, and his son, Emil, died in battle during the Napoleonic Wars. Reichardt himself died in 1814 in Giebichenstein, near Halle. Despite his personal losses, Reichardt left behind a significant body of work that includes operas, songs, instrumental music, and music criticism. His music is characterized by its lyricism and emotional expressiveness, as well as its adherence to classical forms and structures. He was also an important figure in the cultural life of his time, as a composer, conductor, and critic who helped shape the musical tastes of his contemporaries.

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