Cornelius, Peter

views updated

Cornelius, Peter (b Mainz, 1824; d Mainz, 1874). Ger. composer and writer. His delightful comic opera Der Barbier von Bagdad was produced by Liszt at Weimar, 1858, but controversy caused by Cornelius's advocacy of the Liszt–Wagner ‘New Music’ led to its withdrawal and to Liszt's resignation as court cond. Trans. some Berlioz libs., incl. Benvenuto Cellini, into Ger. Lived in Vienna 1859–65, meeting Wagner in 1861. Prof. of harmony, Munich Cons., 1867, and became one of Wagner's inner circle. Wrote 2 other operas, Der Cid (Weimar 1865) and Gunlöd (unfinished, completed by Bausznern, prod. 1891). Wrote many beautiful vocal works incl. Stabat Mater (1849) and Requiem (1863–72), and songs incl. the Christmas hymn known in Eng. as ‘Three Kings from Persian Lands afar’ but orig. Die Könige from the Weihnachtslieder (1856).

More From encyclopedia.com