Richard Genée, actually Franz Friedrich Richard Genée, (* Februar 7, 1823, in Danzig; † Juni 15, 1895, in Baden near Vienna) was a German-Austrian librettist, playwright, and composer.
The son of the opera singer Friedrich Genée (1795–1856) attended like his younger brother Rudolf Genée the ''Gymnasium zum Grauen Kloster'' (secondary school) in Berlin. Initially, he studied medicine and then music. He received composition lessons from Adolf Stahlknecht (1813-1887) in Berlin.
After his father took over the management of the ''Stadttheater Danzig'' (Danzig State Theater), Richard Genée was employed in 1843 as ballet conductor and second musical director.
As of 1848 he worked as a director of music in Reval and Riga 1852/1853 in Cologne, Düsseldorf, Aachen, Danzig; 1857 in Mainz, 1864/1865 at the ''Prager Landestheater'' (Prague State Theater) then at the ''Hofopfer'' (Court Opera) in Schwerin as well at the ''Hoogduitse Schouwburg (German theater) in Amsterdam.
Richard Genée was a friend of Friedrich von Flotow and worked as of 1868 for a decade as music director at the ''Theater an der Wien'' (Vienna). Together with Franz Zell (operetta company ''Zell and Genée) he wrote a multitude of libretti for operettas by Johann Strauß, Carl Millöcker, Franz von Suppé, Carl Michael Ziehrer including ''Der Bettelstudent''. He wrote the libretto for ''Die Fledermaus'' by Johann Strauß together with Karl Haffner.
In 1876 he composed the operetta ''Der Seekadett''. In the game of chess it is an opening trap, ''Das Seekadettenmatt'' after which the opera is named.
Genée spent the winter months in Berlin and the summer months in Vienna, Tullnerbach or at his home in Baden where died '' during a stay at a health resort''. He believed in the Protestant Faith and was buried on June 17, 1895, in the ''Stadtdfriedhof'' (City Cemetery). Among the mourners were Strauß, Millöcvker as well as Karl Komzák.
In 1951 the ''Geneegasse'' (street) in Vienna-Hietzing was named in his honor. Genée has been honored with his name at other public traffic areas in Baden near Vienna (since 1995) as well as Tullnerbach.
