Umlauf, Michael

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Umlauf, Michael

Umlauf, Michael, Austrian violinist, conductor, and composer, son of Ignaz Umlauf; b. Vienna, Aug. 9, 1781; d. Baden, near Vienna, June 20,1842. He joined the Vienna court orch. as a violinist at an early age, and conducted at court theaters from about 1809 to 1825; from 1840 he served as music director of the two court theaters. He assisted Beethoven in conducting the 9thSym. and other works (actually led the performances, with Beethoven indicating the initial tempos). Umlauf had some success as a composer of ballets, the most successful being Paul und Rosette oder Die Winzer (Vienna, March 5,1806). Other works include the Singspiel Der Grenadier (July 8,1812), and the ballets Amors Rache (Oct. 18, 1804) and Das eigensinnige Landmädchen (April 9,1810); he also composed a few sacred vocal works and piano pieces.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire