Role

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Composer

Period

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Romantic

Genre

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Ballet

 

Eduard Helsted was a Danish composer and conductor who lived from 1816 to 1900. He was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, on February 5, 1816, to a family of musicians. His father, Christian Helsted, was a violinist and conductor, and his mother, Johanne Marie Helsted, was a singer. Eduard Helsted showed an early interest in music and began studying the violin and piano at a young age. Helsted's musical education continued at the Royal Danish Academy of Music, where he studied composition with Niels Gade and violin with Johan Peter Emilius Hartmann. He graduated from the academy in 1837 and began his career as a violinist in the Royal Danish Orchestra. He also worked as a conductor, leading performances of both opera and symphonic works. Helsted's early compositions were influenced by the Romantic style of his teachers, particularly Gade. His first major work was the Symphony in C minor, which he composed in 1842. The symphony was well-received and established Helsted as a promising young composer. In the 1850s, Helsted began to focus more on opera. He composed several operas, including The King's Children (1853) and The Elf Hill (1854), which were both successful. The Elf Hill, in particular, was praised for its use of Danish folk music and its dramatic intensity. Helsted's most famous work is the ballet Napoli, which he composed in collaboration with August Bournonville, the choreographer of the Royal Danish Ballet. Napoli premiered in 1842 and has since become a staple of the ballet repertoire. The music is lively and colorful, with a strong Italian influence. In addition to his work as a composer and conductor, Helsted was also a respected music educator. He taught at the Royal Danish Academy of Music and was appointed its director in 1871. He held this position until his retirement in 1890. Helsted's later works show a shift towards a more conservative style, with a focus on traditional forms and tonality. However, his music remained popular in Denmark and continued to be performed regularly. Eduard Helsted died in Copenhagen on December 11, 1900, at the age of 84. He is remembered as an important figure in Danish music, particularly for his contributions to the ballet repertoire and his role in the development of the Royal Danish Academy of Music.

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