Breval, Jean-Baptiste Sebastien

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Breval, Jean-Baptiste Sebastien

Breval, Jean-Baptiste Sebastien, outstanding French cellist and composer; b. Paris, Nov. 6, 1753; d. Colligis, Aisne, March 18, 1823. He studied cello with Jean-Baptiste Cupis, making his debut in 1778 at a Concert Spirituel performing one of his own sonatas. He subsequently was a member of its orch. (1781–91), and then played in the orch. of the Théâtre Feydeau (1791–1800). He composed a great quantity of instrumental music, including syms., cello concertos, string quartets, trios, duos, and sonatas. He also wrote an opéra-comique, Inès et Leonore, ou La Soeur jalouse, performed in Versailles on Nov. 14, 1788.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire