Benedikt Schack

Full biography Benedikt Schack

Benedikt Schack was a composer and tenor of the Classical era , born on February 7, 1758, in what is now the Czech Republic, which was then part of the Habsburg Empire. He was a close friend of Mozart and collaborated with him on several occasions. In fact, he was part of the group of musicians who sang parts of Mozart's Requiem to the composer on his deathbed. Schack was known for his talent as a singer and also for his composition skills. He wrote several operas and church music during his career.

Schack's father was a schoolteacher and organist , and his mother came from a family of musicians. Benedikt and his siblings received a musical education from their parents and began performing at an early age. At the age of 16, Schack entered the service of Count Wilhelm von Trauttmansdorff as a chamber musician and tenor. He spent around ten years in the Count's service before embarking on a career as an opera singer and composer.

Schack had a successful career as a singer, performing in numerous operas in Vienna and Prague, among other cities. He also wrote several operas and other compositions. Some of his most notable works include "Die Geisterinsel," "König Alfred," and "Die Pilgrime von Mekka". Schack was known for his talent as a lyric tenor and was highly regarded by both his contemporaries and critics.

In addition to his musical career, Schack was also involved in the Freemason movement, which was popular among musicians and artists of the time. He was a member of several Masonic lodges and was involved in the creation of Masonic music, including writing several Masonic funeral music compositions.

Schack died on December 10, 1826, in Prague, at the age of 68. He left behind a legacy of music that has been appreciated by generations of music lovers and scholars alike. Schack was one of the leading figures of the Czech-German cultural community of his time and remains an important composer of the Classical era.