Nicolai, (Carl) Otto (Ehrenfried)
Nicolai, (Carl) Otto (Ehrenfried)
Nicolai, (Carl) Otto (Ehrenfried), famous German composer and conductor; b. Königsberg, June 9, 1810; d. Berlin, May 11, 1849. He studied piano at home, and in 1827 went to Berlin, where he took lessons in theory with Zelter; also took courses with Bernhard Klein at the Royal Inst. for Church Music. On April 13, 1833, he made his concert debut in Berlin as a pianist, singer, and composer. He then was engaged as organist to the embassy chapel in Rome by the Prussian ambassador, Bunsen. While in Italy, he also studied counterpoint with Giuseppe Baini. In 1837 he proceeded to Vienna, where he became a singing teacher and Kapellmeister at the Kärnthnertortheater. In 1838 he returned to Italy; on Nov. 26, 1839, he presented in Trieste his first opera, Rosmonda d’Inghilterra, given under its new title as Enrico II. His second opera, II Templario, was staged in Turin on Feb. 11, 1840. In 1841 he moved to Vienna, where he was appointed court Kapellmeister in succession to Kreutzer. Nicolai was instrumental in establishing sym. concerts utilizing the musicians of the orch. of the Imperial Court Opera Theater; on March 28, 1842, he conducted this ensemble featuring Beethoven’s 7th Sym.; this became the inaugural concert of the celebrated Vienna Phil. In 1848 he was appointed Kapellmeister of the Royal Opera in Berlin. On March 9, 1849, his famous opera Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, after Shakespeare, was given at the Berlin Royal Opera; it was to become his only enduring creation. Nicolai died two months after its production. In 1887 Hans Richter, then conductor of the Vienna Phil., inaugurated an annual “Nicolai-Konzert” in his memory, and it became a standard occasion.
Works
dramatic: opera:Enrico II (original title, Rosmonda d’Inghilterra; Trieste, Nov. 26, 1839); II Templario (Turin, Feb. 11, 1840; rev. as Der Tempelritter, Vienna, Dec. 20, 1845); Gildippe ed Odoardo (Genoa, Dec. 26, 1840); II proscritto (Milan, March 13, 1841; rev. as Die Heimkehr des Verbannten, Vienna, Feb. 3, 1846); Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor (Berlin, March 9, 1849). vocal: sacred:Pater noster for 8 Voices, op.33; In assumptione Beatae Mariae Virginis, offertory for 5 Voices, op.38; Salve regina for Soprano and Orch., op.39; Te Deum for Solo Voices, 4 Voices, and Orch.; Mass in D major for 4 Solo Voices, 4 Voices, and Orch.; Psalms, motets, etc. secular choral:Preussens Stimme for 4 Voices and Orch., op.4; 6 lieder for 4 Voices, op.6; Verschiedene Empfindungen an einem Platz for Soprano, 2 Tenors, Bass, and Piano, op.9; 3 Königslieder der älteren Berliner Liedertafel for 4 Men’s Voices, op. 10; Gesänge for 4 Men’s Voices, op.17; etc. other: Songs. orch.:In morte di Vincenzo Bellini, funeral march; syms.: No. 1, in C minor (1831), and No. 2, in D major (1835; rev. 1845); Kirchliche Festouverture über...Ein feste Burg for 4 Voices, Organ, and Orch., op.32 (1844); Weihnachtsouverture über Vom Himmel hoch for 4 Voices ad libitum and Orch. chamber: Various works.
Bibliography
H. Mendel, O. N.: Eine Biographie (Berlin, 1866; 2nded., 1868); B. Schröder, ed., O. N.: Tagebücher nebst biographischen Ergänzungen (Leipzig, 1892); G. Kruse, O. N.: Ein Künstlerleben (Berlin, 1911); idem, O. N.s musikalische Aufsätze (Regensburg, 1913); W. Altmann, ed., O. N.: Briefe an seinen Vater (Regensburg, 1924); W. Altmann, ed., O. N.s Tagebücher (Regensburg, 1937); W. Jerger, ed., O. N.: Briefe an die Wiener Philharmoniker (Vienna, 1942); U. Konrad, O. N., 1810–1849; Studien zu Leben und Werk (Baden-Baden, 1986).
—Nicolas Slomnisky/Laura Kaun/Dennis McIntire