Schack, Benedikt

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Schack, Benedikt [ Benedikt Žák] (b Mirotice, 1758; d Munich, 1826). Bohem. tenor, composer, flautist, and conductor. Court cond., then joined Schikaneder's co. 1786 as ten., singing with it in Salzburg, Vienna, Graz, and Munich until 1805. Created Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, 1791, playing the fl. himself. Said to be one of group who sang parts of Mozart's Requiem to composer on his death-bed. Wrote several operas and church mus. Mozart in 1791 wrote a set of 8 variations for pf. (K613) on the aria Ein Weib ist das herrlichste Ding, said to be by Schack.

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