Stegmann, Carl David

Stegmann, Carl David, German tenor, harpsichordist, conductor, and composer; b. Staucha, near Meissen, 1751; d. Bonn, May 27, 1826. He studied with the Staucha organist, then went to Dresden to study with J.F. Zillich; also attended the Kreuzschule there (1766–70) and received instruction from Homilius and H. Weisse. He was active at theaters in Breslau (1772) and Königsberg (1773). After serving as court harpsichordist to the Bishop of Ermeland in Heilsberg (1774), he was active again in Königsberg and then in Gotha. From 1778 to 1783 he won success as a harpsichordist in Hamburg, then went to Bonn as a member of the Grossmann theater company and later was active at the Mainz Court Theater. Stegmann was a skillful composer of both vocal and instrumental works.

Works

DRAMATIC: Opera: Sultan Wampum oder Die Wünsche (Mainz, March 7, 1791); Der Roseninsel (Hamburg, Nov. 24, 1806). Comic Opera: Der Kaufmann von Smirna (Königsberg, 1773); Die Rekruten auf dem Lande (Danzig, 1775); Das redende Gemahlde (Königsberg, 1775). Singspiels: Heinrich der Löwe (Frankfurt am Main, July 15, 1792); Der Triumph der Liebe oder Das kühne Abentheuer (Hamburg, Feb. 27, 1796). Operetta: Der Deserteur (Danzig, 1775). Ballet: Die herrschaftliche Küche (Danzig, 1775). Other: Incidental music. ORCH.: Various concertos, including a Concerto for Piano, Oboe, Horn, and Orch. and a Concerto for 2 Pianos, Violin, and Strings. OTHER: chamber works; piano pieces; songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire