A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Bochsa, Robert
BOCHSA, Robert Nicolas Charles, composer and eminent harpist, born at Montmédi 1789 [App. p.549 "Aug. 9"], was the son of Karl Bochsa, a flute and clarinet-player. He played the piano and flute in public at an early age, and composed airs de ballet for the theatre while yet a child. Before he was sixteen his opera 'Trajan' was produced at Lyons in honour of the Emperor's visit. His family having removed to Bourdeaux he became a pupil of Franz Beck, under whom he wrote a ballet, and an oratorio, 'Le Déluge Universel.' In 1806 he entered the Conservatoire at Paris as a pupil first of Catel and then of Méhul. He studied the harp under Nadermann and Marin, but soon formed a style of his own. He was continually discovering new effects, even to the close of his life, and may fairly be said to have revolutionised harp-playing. In 1813 he was appointed harpist to the Emperor Napoleon, and three years later to Louis XVIII and the Duc de Berri. Eight operas from his pen were performed at the Opéra Comique between 1813 and 1816. He composed a requiem to the memory of Louis XVI, which was performed with great solemnity in Jan. 1816, but a year later he was detected in extensive forgeries, and fled from France never to return. He was tried in his absence, and condemned to 12 years imprisonment, with a fine of 4,000 francs. He took refuge in London, where his fine playing was universally admired, and so popular did the harp become that he was unable to satisfy all the applicants for lessons. Parish-Alvars and J. B. Chatterton were both pupils of Bochsa. In 1822 he undertook the joint management, with Sir George Smart, of the Lent oratorios, and in 1823 the entire direction of them. Here he produced Stadler's 'Jerusalem,' oratorios by Wade and Sir John Stevenson, and his own 'Déluge Universel.' On the institution of the Royal Academy of Music Bochsa was appointed professor of the harp and general secretary, but in 1827 was dismissed on account of public attacks upon his character which he was unable to deny. In 1826 he succeeded Coccia as conductor at the King's Theatre, and six years later was himself succeeded by Costa. Rossini's 'Comte Ory' was produced under his management. Bochsa gave annual concerts, the programme of which always contained some striking novelty, though not always in the best taste. For instance, at one of them Beethoven's 'Pastoral Symphony' was accompanied by acted illustrations. In 1839 he ran away with the wife of Sir Henry Bishop and undertook a concert tour, visiting every country of Europe (except France), America, and Australia, where he died of dropsy at Sydney in 1855. Immediately before his death he composed a requiem, which was performed at his funeral.
As a composer Bochsa was too prolific for his own fame. Some of his many compositions for the harp, including a 'Method' for that instrument, are still known to harp-players. As a man he was irregular and dissipated to the last degree.[ M. C. C. ]