Stefani, Józef

views updated

Stefani, Józef

Stefani, Józef, Polish composer and conductor, son of Jan Stefani; b. Warsaw, April 16, 1800; d. there, March 19, 1867. He was a pupil of his father and of Eisner in Warsaw (1821–24). He conductedballet at the Warsaw Opera, and wrote a number of light operas, which enjoyed a modicum of success during his lifetime: Dawne czasy (April 26, 1826), Lekcja botaniki (March 15, 1829), Figle panieri (Aug. 6, 1832), Talizman (Dec. 7, 1849), Zyd wieczny tulacz (Jan. 1, 1850), Piorun (May 21, 1856), and Trwoga wieczorna (posthumous, July 25, 1872). He also wrote church music, which was often performed in religious services in Poland. Many of his works are lost.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire