Julius Benedict: Julius Benedict was born on November 27, 1804 in Stuttgart, Württemberg, Germany and died on June 5, 1885 in London, England. He was a British composer and chapel conductor with German origins.
Upon the recommendation of Carl Maria von Weber, Benedict acceded in 1823 to the position of musical director at the ''Kärntnertor Theater'' in Vienna, Austria. He met with Ludwig van Beethoven there several times and accompanied his teacher Weber. Two years later he transferred over to the the same position at the ''San Carlo Theater'' in Naples, Italy.
In addition to numerous brilliant piano compositions and his own church musical works, he composed a series of operas. Up to his death in 1885, he was held in high esteem as an orchestra conductor and pianist.