Schall, claus Nielsen

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Schall, claus Nielsen

Schall, Claus Nielsen, Danish violinist and composer; b. Copenhagen, April 28, 1757; d. there, Aug. 9, 1835. He became a dancer at the Royal Theater in 1772, was made a member of the court chapel in 1775, and became répétiteur and director of the ballet at the Royal Theater in 1776. After touring in Europe, he returned to Copenhagen as Konzertmeister of the Opera in 1792; was made composer to the Royal Ballet in 1795; served as music director of the Opera (1818–34). He wrote 6 Singspiels, of which the following (all first perf. in Copenhagen) were the most successful: Claudine af Villa Bella (Jan. 29, 1787), Kinafarerne (March 2, 1792), Domherren i Milano (March 16, 1802), and De tre Galninger (March 19, 1816). He also wrote some 20 ballets, various orch. pieces, chamber music, and songs.

Bibliography

J. Friedrich, C. S. als dramatischer Komponist (diss., Univ. of Breslau, 1930).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire