Johan Fredrik Berwald (4 December 1787 – 26 August 1861) was a Swedish violinist, conductor and composer. He was a cousin of

Franz Berwald Franz Adolf Berwald (23 July 1796 – 3 April 1868) was a Swedish Romantic composer and violinist. He made his living as an orthopedist and later as the manager of a saw mill and glass factory, and became more appreciated as a composer after ...

and August Berwald.

Biography

Berwald appeared as an infant prodigy on violin as early as age six, touring abroad together with his father Georg Johann Abraham Berwald, a

bassoon The bassoon is a musical instrument in the woodwind family, which plays in the tenor and bass ranges. It is composed of six pieces, and is usually made of wood. It is known for its distinctive tone color, wide range, versatility, and virtuosity ...

player at the

Kungliga Hovkapellet Kungliga Hovkapellet (, "The Royal Court Orchestra") is a Swedish orchestra, originally part of the Royal Court in Sweden's capital Stockholm. Its existence was first recorded in 1526. Since 1773 it is part of the Royal Swedish Opera's company. K ...

. During four years, starting in 1808, Johan Fredrik Berwald was a soloist at the Royal Chapel in

Saint Petersburg Saint Petersburg, formerly known as Petrograd and later Leningrad, is the List of cities and towns in Russia by population, second-largest city in Russia after Moscow. It is situated on the Neva, River Neva, at the head of the Gulf of Finland ...

. He became a violinist at the Kungliga Hovkapellet in

Stockholm Stockholm (; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, most populous city of Sweden, as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately ...

in 1814, and conductor of the Royal Orchestra 1823 to 1847. During this time he also led the concerts of the Harmonic Society. Unlike his cousin Franz Berwald, Johan Fredrik was successful as a musician during his lifetime. The cousins were sometimes rivals, and Johan Fredrik made, as far as is known, no efforts to help Franz have his scenic and symphonic works performed. He was regarded as an average conductor and out of date as a composer, but his introduction of

Weber Weber may refer to: Places United States * Weber, Missouri, an unincorporated community * Weber City, Virginia, a town * Weber City, Fluvanna County, Virginia, an unincorporated community * Weber County, Utah * Weber Canyon, Utah * Weber R ...

's and

Meyerbeer Giacomo Meyerbeer (born Jakob Liebmann Meyer Beer; 5 September 1791 – 2 May 1864) was a German opera composer, "the most frequently performed opera composer during the nineteenth century, linking Mozart and Wagner". With his 1831 opera ''Ro ...

's operas, for instance, was successful, partly because of

Jenny Lind Johanna Maria Lind (Madame Goldschmidt) (6 October 18202 November 1887) was a Swedish opera singer, often called the "Swedish Nightingale". One of the most highly regarded singers of the 19th century, she performed in soprano roles in opera in ...

's participation. A couple of

divertissement ''Divertissement'' (from the French 'diversion' or 'amusement') is used, in a similar sense to the Italian 'divertimento', for a light piece of music for a small group of players, however the French term has additional meanings. During the 17th an ...

s were composed directly for Jenny Lind, for example "''En majdag i Värend''" (1843) in a kind of nationally and popularly adapted style bearing the stamp of the period. In addition to that he composed orchestral and chamber music together with some vocal music. None of these can be said to be in the concert repertoire of today. He was married to the royal concert singer Mathilda Cohn. Their daughter

Julie Berwald ''Julie'' Mathilda Berwald (14 October 1822 in Stockholm – 1 January 1877) was a Swedish concert and opera singer. Julie Berwald was born to the concert singer Mathilda Berwald and the musician Johan Fredrik Berwald. She and her sisters Fre ...

(1822-1877), was for a short time opera singer at the

Royal Swedish Opera Royal Swedish Opera () is an opera and ballet company based in Stockholm, Sweden. Location and environment The building is located in the centre of Sweden's capital, Stockholm, in the borough of Norrmalm (borough), Norrmalm, on the eastern si ...

in Stockholm where she made her debut in 1847, was employed in 1848, and left in 1852 when she married the baron Knut Åkerhjelm. Berwald was elected as fellow no 228 to the Swedish Royal Academy of Music on 2 December 1818.

Selected works

* ''L'héroine de l'amour filial'' Operetta - 1811 Saint Petersburg * ''Nya garnisonen'' Vaudeville 1 act - 8 April 1831 Stockholm, Kungliga Teatern * ''Felsheims hussar'' Vaudeville 3 acts - 10 February 1832 Stockholm, Kungliga Teatern * ''Ett national-Divertissement'' 1 act ''Böttiger'' - 6 February 1843 Stockholm, Kungliga. Teatern * ''En majdag i Wärend'' Sångspel 1 act ''Böttiger'' - 11 May 1843 Stockholm, Kungliga Teatern

External links

*
Swedish Musical Heritage - Johan Fredrik Berwald
{{DEFAULTSORT:Berwald, Johan Fredrik 1787 births 1861 deaths Swedish classical composers Swedish violinists Swedish male violinists 19th-century Swedish male musicians 19th-century musicians