Complete Encyclopaedia of Music/B/Benedict, Jules
Benedict, Jules, was born December 24, 1804, of an Israelite family. He is a native of Stuttgart, in Germany. While yet a boy he exhibited so decided a passion for music that his parents determined on indulging his inclinations. He was accordingly placed under the tuition of Hummel, at Weimar. Under the care of this master he made an improvement so rapid that in the winter of 1820 he left him to pursue his studies as a pianist and composer at Dresden with Carl Maria von Weber. For more than four years did Benedict remain with this illustrious master, treated more as a beloved son than as a mere student. During this period of his life he accompanied Weber both to Berlin and Vienna to witness the first performance of his chef d'oeuvres, the "Freyschutz" and the "Euryanthe." In Berlin it was that he became acquainted with Mendelssohn, then a boy, and formed a lasting friendship with the author of "St. Paul" and the "Elijah." At Vienna he was also introduced to the immortal Beethoven, and obtained, through Weber's influence and his own talents, the position of musical director to the Italian Opera. At this time he was scarcely seventeen years of age. Barbaja, who was then its manager, also conducted the theatres of Naples and Milan, and shortly after proposed to Benedict to take the position of maestro di capella at Naples, in the theatres San Carlo and Fondo. This was in the spring of 1825. In this position Benedict remained for more than four years. In 1830 he became acquainted with Malibran. This great singer took a warm interest in Benedict's career, and formed a high opinion of his talents. She accordingly urged him to accompany her to England. His departure was, however, deferred, in consequence of his engagement to a young Neapolitan lady, (whom he subsequently married,) until 1835, when he arrived in England. His first concert stamped his reputation. It in-deed gave him a European celebrity which he has ever since maintained. At this concert Malibran and Grisi, for the first time, sang together. This was in the celebrated duet from "Andronico." Subsequently he appeared as conductor of the opera buffa at the St. James Theatre, and was afterwards engaged for a number of years as the musical director of the Drury Lane and Covent Garden Theatres. During this time he produced several operas, and it will scarcely be out of place in this brief biography to enumerate his more important works. In 1827 he produced the "Giacinta ed Ernesto" at Naples, in the Fondo. In 1830 the management of the San Carlo produced "I Portoghesi in Goa." The first of these works was an opera buffa, and the second an opera seria, each of them being in two acts. In 1836, "Un anno ed un giorno," a charming little opera buffa in a single act, was given to the public. After his arrival in London, the first opera which he produced was the "Gypsy's Warning." This was in 1838. It was only in two acts ; but such were the sweetness of the melodies and the art displayed in the instrumentation of the opera, that it at once stamped his reputation ; and when, in 1844, The Brides of Venice," a grand opera in four acts, was produced by the management of Drury Lane, he had already been recognized as one of the greatest composers then in the country of his adoption. Since this he has produced but one opera, called " The Crusaders," at the same theatre. The talent displayed in this work confirmed his reputation.
The arrangements and direction of the Musical Festivals in London, Norwich, and Liverpool, have also been intrusted to him, and he is probably the only conductor in England who is as well known and as well appreciated in the provinces as he is in London itself.
In 1847 he was introduced, as we have heard, to Mademoiselle Jenny Lind, who made her first appearance as a singer of sacred music in England at the performance of Mendelssohn's "Elijah," at Exeter Hall, on the 15th December, 1848, under the direction of Mr. Benedict. This performance, which was given by a committee of Mendelssohn's personal admirers, with the view of providing a fund for the purpose of instituting two scholarships in the name of the deceased master, at Leipsic, proved eminently successful, and deserves commemoration as the first introduction of Jenny Lind to the English public. He was the conductor of her concerts in the United States in 1851-2, until the termination of her connection with Mr. Barnum as manager, when he returned to Europe, and passed a sad season in Italy, where he buried his wife and son. M. Benedict now resides again in London, and has been distinguished during the past year as conductor of the Norwich Festival, and of the New Harmonic Society.