A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Lassen, Eduard

by George Grove

LASSEN, Eduard, though a native of Copenhagen, where he was born April 13, 1830, is virtually a Belgian musician, since he was taken to Brussels when only 2, entered the Conservatoire there at 12, in 1844 took the first prize as P.F. player, in 47 the same for harmony, and soon afterward the second prize for composition. His successes, which were many, were crowned by the great Government prize, which was adjudged to him in 1851, after which he started on a lengthened tour through Germany and Italy. Disappointed in his hopes of getting his 5-act opera, 'Le Roi Edgard' performed at Brussels, he betook himself to Weimar, where in 57 it was produced under the care of Liszt, with great success. A second, 'Frauenlob,' and a third, 'Der Gefangene,' were equally fortunate. When Liszt retired from Weimar, Lassen took his place, and had the satisfaction to produce 'Tristan and Isolde' in 1874, at a time when no other theatre but Munich had dared to do so. He there published a Symphony in D, a Beethoven overture, and a Festival ditto, music to Sophocles' Œdipus, to Hebbel's Nibelungen, and Goethe's Faust, Parts 1 and 2, a Fest-Cantate, a Te Deum, a large number of songs, and other pieces. His latest work is a set of 6 songs (op. 67).

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