Kamienski, Mathias

1734-1821

First composer to write Polish operas; was born at Odenburg, Hungary, and went to Vienna for his musical education. He played the violin in the chapel of Count Henkel, and later went to Warsaw to teach. His opera, Comfort in Misfortune, was given there by Polish singers in 1778, and was very successful. His six Polish operas were all produced with favorable results, and he wrote two German operas which never appeared. His other works are a cantata, given when King Sobieski's statue was unveiled in 1792; some church-music; and polonaises.