Rösler or Rössler, Johann Joseph (actually, Jan Josef)

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Rösler or Rössler, Johann Joseph (actually, Jan Josef)

Rösler or Rössler, Johann Joseph (actually, Jan Josef ), Bohemian pianist and composer; b. Banska Stiavnica, Aug. 22, 1771; d. Prague, Jan. 28, 1813. He studied music with his father, then was a composer for Prague’s Nostitz Theater, where he brought out the opera Elisene, Prinzessin von Bulgarien (Oct. 18, 1807), the first original stage work to be produced there. He went to Vienna (1805) and was active at the Court Theater; was also in the service of Countess Lobkowitz. His other works include keyboard sonatas, piano pieces, and the Cantate auf Mozart’s Tod (1798). A movement from one of his piano concertos was erroneously attributed to Beethoven.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire