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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Daniel Gottlieb Steibelt (October 22, 1765 – October 2 [O.S. September 20] 1823) was a German pianist and composer. His main works were composed in Paris and in London, and he died in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Steibelt was born in Berlin, and studied music with Johann Kirnberger before being forced by his father to join the Prussian Army. Deserting, he began a nomadic career as a pianist before settling in 1790 in Paris, where he attained great popularity as a virtuoso as the result of a piano sonata called La Coquette, which he composed for Marie Antoinette. Also in Paris, his dramatic opera entitled Romeo et Juliette, which was later highly regarded by Hector Berlioz, was produced at the Théâtre Feydeau in 1793. This is held by many to be his most original and artistically successful composition.
Steibelt began to share his time between Paris and London, where his piano-playing attracted great attention.
In 1808 he was invited by Tsar Alexander I to Saint Petersburg, succeeding François-Adrien Boieldieu as director of the French Opera in 1811. He remained there for the rest of his life. In 1812, he composed The Conflagration of Moscow, a grand fantasy for piano dedicated to the Russian nation. Steibelt generally ceased performing in 1814, but returned to the platform for his Concerto No. 8, which was premiered on March 16, 1820, in Saint Petersburg, and is notable for its choral finale. This was four years before Beethoven's unconventional Symphony No. 9, and was the only piano concerto ever written (excluding Beethoven's Choral Fantasy) with a part for a chorus until Henri Herz's 6th concerto, Op. 192 (1858) and Ferruccio Busoni's Piano Concerto (1904). Steibelt died in Saint Petersburg on September 20, 1823 (October 2, N.S.), following a prolonged illness. |