Person details

Jan Král

Johann

Král, Jan (1823-1912). Czech violist. Studied violin at the Prague Conservatory (1839-43), engaged as viola player in the orchestra of the Estates Theatre from 1842 until autumn 1851. Active as a viola player in chamber music productions in Prague during the 1840s and early 1850s, and as a proponent of the viola d’amore. In the spring of 1850 Bohemia reported that Král was moving to Vienna to join the orchestra of the court opera. On 13/8/1850 the newspaper noted that ‘Mr Král, member of our theatre orchestra, doughty proponent of the poetic Viola d’amour’ had undertaken a concert tour during which he would give concerts in Berlin and Stettin. His leaving Prague permanently in 1850 seems not however to have been occured, he appeared in chamber music entertainments in Prague during 1851, and on 25/9/1851 Lumír published news that ‘Prague music will soon suffer a new painful loss. Our magnificent Král is leaving the orchestra of the local Estates Theatre. This incomparable Czech artist has obtained two honourable invitations, that is to the orchestra of Weimar, and to the Vienna Court Theatre. Undoubtedly Král has decided upon Vienna.’

Bohemia 8/12/1850 published a notice undersigned ‘Johann Král, member of the Royal Estates Theatre orchestra’, in which the player distanced himself from subscription and admission tickets, apparently undersigned by him, that were in circulation for a supposed imminent academy [music performance] event.

Events in which this person was a composer:

Events in which this person participated as a instrumentalist

Events in which this person participated as a soloist