Reissiger, Karl Gottlieb

1798-1859

German dramatic composer and conductor; born at Belzig, near Wittenberg; son of the precentor there; entered the school of St. Thomas in Leipsic in 1811 as a pupil of Schicht. In 1818 he began to study theology, but soon gave it up and resumed his study of music, first under Schicht, then, in 1821, at Vienna. Here he appeared in concert as a singer and pianist and wrote an opera, Das Rockenweibchen. Went to Munich, where he made a study of dramatic composition and produced his overture and incidental music to Nero. He was sent by the Prussian government to Italy, France and Holland, for the study and inspection of musical conditions in those countries. On his return he submitted a plan to the government for a Conservatory. After teaching for a short time in the Royal Institute of Church-Music at Berlin, he was called to The Hague to organize a Conservatory. In 1826 he became musical director of the German Opera in Dresden, and the next year was appointed Court conductor. He was a prolific composer; his works include eight operas, masses and other churchmusic; considerable piano and chamber-music; a symphony and an overture; an oratorio, David; a number of songs; and a popular waltz, known as Weber's Last Thought. He died in Dresden.