Georg Benda

Georg Benda (baptized June 30, 1722, Staré Benátky, Bohemia [now in Czech Republic]—died Nov. 6, 1795, Köstritz, Saxony [Germany]) was a composer widely admired during his lifetime for his stage works. The third son of Jan Jiří Benda and his wife, Dorota Brixi, both musicians, and brother of the violinist František Benda, he went with his family to Berlin in 1742. He played violin in the royal orchestra (1742–49) and for nearly 30 years (from...