Bergson, Michael

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BERGSON, MICHAEL

BERGSON, MICHAEL (1820–1898), Polish pianist and composer, born in Warsaw. He was the father of the French philosopher Henri *Bergson. Michael's opera Luisa di Montfort was produced in Florence (1847) and in Hamburg (1849); his operetta Qui va à la chasse, perd sa place in Paris (1859). For ten years he was piano professor, then director of the Geneva Conservatory. In 1873 he settled in London, where he collaborated with M. Hast in the compilation and editing of synagogue music. A pupil of Chopin, he composed in Chopinesque style, for which Schumann criticized him. One of his works, Scena ed Aria, is still widely played by military bands.

bibliography:

Baker, Biog Dict; Grove, Dict; Sendrey, Music, indexes.

[Dora Leah Sowden]

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