Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1875

Death

:

1939

Genre

:

Vocal

 

Emil Mattiesen was a Danish composer born on August 8, 1875, in the town of Horsens, Denmark. He was the son of a music teacher and grew up in a musical family. His father, Carl Mattiesen, was a well-known music teacher and composer, and his mother, Marie, was a pianist. Emil showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at a young age. Emil Mattiesen received his musical education at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen, where he studied composition with Johan Svendsen and piano with Ove Christensen. He graduated in 1899 and went on to study in Berlin with the renowned composer and conductor, Felix Weingartner. Mattiesen's early works were influenced by the Romantic style of the late 19th century, but he soon developed his own unique style. He was particularly interested in the music of the French Impressionists, such as Debussy and Ravel, and incorporated their techniques into his own compositions. Mattiesen's first major work was his Symphony No. 1, which he composed in 1905. The symphony was well-received and established Mattiesen as a significant composer in Denmark. He went on to compose several more symphonies, including Symphony No. 2, which was premiered in 1912 and Symphony No. 3, which was premiered in 1922. In addition to his symphonies, Mattiesen composed a number of chamber works, including string quartets, piano trios, and sonatas. He also wrote several operas, including "The Witch" and "The King's Son," which were both premiered in Copenhagen in the 1920s. Mattiesen's music was characterized by its lyrical melodies, rich harmonies, and colorful orchestration. He was particularly skilled at creating atmospheric and evocative music, and his works often had a dreamlike quality. Despite his success as a composer, Mattiesen struggled with depression and alcoholism throughout his life. He died on January 18, 1929, at the age of 53. Today, Emil Mattiesen is remembered as one of Denmark's most important composers of the early 20th century. His music is still performed and recorded, and his influence can be heard in the works of many contemporary Danish composers.

More....