Georg Benda

Georg Anton Benda (; baptized 30 June 1722 - 6 November 1795) was a Bohemian composer.
Life.
Early Life.
Benda was born in Benátky nad Jizerou, Bohemia. His father was Jan Jiří Benda. He had three brothers, Franz Benda, Johann Benda, and Joseph Benda. The Benda family was a musical family. All four brothers became musicians in life. In 1739, he studied at the Jesuit college in Jičiń. He moved to Prussia with his family in 1742. His brother Franz was a violinist there. Franz invited his family to live in Prussia.
Career.
In 1750, Benda became the "Kapellmeister" for Frederick III, Duke of Gotha. He was in charge of the music in the court of Gotha. He wrote some operas and cantatas in Gotha. In 1765, he went to Italy to study for six months. He visited Venice, Bologna, Florence, and Rome. He returned to Gotha in 1765. When Frederick III died, he focused on writing music for the theater. He wrote "Singspiel", a kind of opera that has spoken words and music. His melodrama "Ariadne auf Naxos" was a success. Mozart heard a performance of "Ariadne auf Naxos" in Mannheim.
Benda left Gotha in 1778. He went to Hamburg and Vienna. He performed some of his melodramas in Vienna. He returned to Gotha in 1779.
Benda died in Köstritz, Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg in 1795.
Music.
Besides writing theater music, he also wrote sinfonias, keyboard sonatas, keyboard concertos, and other chamber music.