A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Siboni

by William Barclay Squire

SIBONI, Giuseppe, a distinguished tenor singer, born^[1] at Forli Jan. 27, 1780, made his début at Florence in 1797, and after singing in Genoa, Milan, and Prague, appeared at the King's Theatre, London, in 1806, and sang for the following three seasons. In 1810, 11, 12, 13 and 14 he was in Vienna, where he sang at the first performances of Beethoven's 'Wellington's Sieg' and 'Tremate empi.' In 1813 he sang at Prague, and after engagements at Naples and St. Petersburg (1818) settled at Copenhagen in Oct. 1819, where he lived for the rest of his life, occupying the post of Director of the Royal Opera and of the Conservatorium. He was married three times, his second wife being a sister of Schubert's friend von Schober, and died at Copenhagen, March 29, 1839. His style is said to have been very good, although his tone was somewhat guttural. His compass was two octaves, from B♭ to B♭. He was a good actor and possessed a fine stage presence. Many of Paer's tenor parts were written for him. His son,

Erik anton Waldemar, born at Copenhagen Aug. 26 (not 28, as stated in Mendel), 1828, learnt the pianoforte from Courlander and Goetze, composition from F. Vogel, and harmony from Prof. J. P. E. Hartrnann. In Sept. 1847 he went to j Leipzig, and studied under Moscheles and Hauptmann, but on the outbreak of the Schleswig Hoistein insurrection he enlisted as a volunteer in the Danish army, and took part in the campaign of 1848. In 1851 he went to Vienna and studied counterpoint under Sechter until 1853, when he returned to Copenhagen, visiting Paris on his way. Among his pupils at this time were the Princess of Wales, the Empress of Russia, and the Landgrave Frederick William of Hesse Cassel. In 1864 Herr Siboni was appointed organist and professor of music at the Royal Academy of Music of Sorb, in Seeland, a post he still holds. The following are his chief compositions:—

1. Published.

3 Impromptus for PF for 4 hands (op. 1); Organ Preludes; Quartet for PF. and Strings (op. 10); Tragic Overture in C minor (op. 14); Songs and PF. pieces.

2. Unpublished.

2 Danish operas—'Loreley,' in 1 act; 'Carl den Andens Flugt,' in 3 acts (Libretto on subject from English History by Professor Thomas Overskou), successfully performed at the Royal Theatre of Copenhagen; Psalm 111, for Bass Solo, Chorus, and Orchestra; 'Stabat Mater,' for Soli. Chorus, Orchestra, and Organ; Cantata, 'The Battle of Murten,' for Soli, Male Chorus, and Orchestra; 'The Assault of Copenhagen,' Cantata for Soli, Chorus, and Orchestra; 2 Symphonies; Concert Overture; PF. Concerto; String Quartets; PF. Trio; Duet for 2 PFs., Sonatas for PF. and Violin, and PF. and Cello, etc., many of them performed at concerts in Copenhagen.

His wife, Johanna Frederika (née Crull), an excellent pianist, born at Rostock Jan. 30, 1839, is the daughter of Hofrath Dr. Crull and Catherine Braun. She found an early protectress in the Duchess of Cambridge, who placed her under Marschner. On the death of her father, she lived in Sweden with the Baroness Stjernblad, who in 1860 sent her to Leipzig, where she was one of Moscheles's most promising pupils. In the following winter she went to Copenhagen, and played with great success. She was married to Herr Siboni Sept. 1, 1866, since when she has only occasionally performed at concerts at Copenhagen and Sorö.

[ W. B. S. ]

1. Fétis gives his birthplace as Bologna, and the date as 1782, but the above details are from autobiographical notes supplied by his son.