Role

:

Composer

Country

:

France

Birth

:

August 9, 1789

Death

:

January 6, 1856

Period

:

Romantic

Genre

:

Chamber

 

Nicholas Charles Bochsa was a French-born harpist, composer, and conductor who lived from 1789 to 1856. He was born in Montmédy, France, to a family of musicians. His father, Joseph Bochsa, was a cellist and conductor, and his mother, Marie-Catherine Millot, was a harpist. Nicholas Charles Bochsa showed an early talent for music and began studying the harp with his mother at a young age. Bochsa's musical education continued in Paris, where he studied with the renowned harpist Jean-Baptiste Krumpholtz. He quickly gained a reputation as a virtuoso performer and began touring throughout Europe. In 1813, he was appointed harpist to the King of Naples, and he spent several years performing in Italy. Bochsa's career took a dramatic turn in 1817 when he eloped with the wife of a wealthy Englishman. The scandal caused a sensation in the press, and Bochsa was forced to flee to London. He quickly established himself as a leading harpist and composer in England, and he became a favorite of the royal family. Bochsa's compositions were highly regarded during his lifetime, and he wrote a large number of works for the harp, including concertos, sonatas, and studies. He also composed operas, ballets, and other works for the stage. His music was characterized by its virtuosity and technical demands, reflecting his own skills as a performer. One of Bochsa's most famous works is his Harp Concerto No. 1 in D major, which was composed in 1819. The concerto is a showcase for the harp, with virtuosic passages and lyrical melodies. It remains a popular work in the harp repertoire today. Bochsa's career as a conductor was also notable. He conducted the first performance of Rossini's opera "The Barber of Seville" in London in 1818, and he was the conductor of the King's Theatre in London from 1827 to 1834. He also conducted the first performance of his own opera, "La Dame invisible," in Paris in 1833. Despite his success as a musician, Bochsa's personal life was often tumultuous. He was married several times and had numerous affairs. He was also known for his extravagant lifestyle and his love of gambling, which often left him in debt. Bochsa's career began to decline in the 1840s, and he struggled to find work as a performer and composer. He died in Sydney, Australia, in 1856, while on a tour of the colonies. Despite his personal flaws, Bochsa's contributions to the harp repertoire and his influence on the development of classical music in England cannot be denied.

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