Johann(es) Simon Mayr (also spelled Majer, Mayer, Maier), also known in Italian as Giovanni Simone Mayr or Simone Mayr (June 14, 1763 in Mendorf near Altmannstein, Landkreis Eichstätt - December 2, 1845 in Bergamo) was a German composer.

Life

He was born in Bavaria and studied theology at the University of Ingolstadt, continuing his studies in Italy from 1787. He was closely associated with the Bavarian Illuminati of Adam Weishaupt while a student in Ingolstadt, and the ideals of the French Enlightenment were a strong influence on his philosophy as a musician as corroborated by his famed Zibaldone or "Notebooks" compiled toward the end of his career.

Shortly thereafter, he took music lessons with Carlo Lenzi, and later with Ferdinando Bertoni. He moved to Bergamo in 1802 and was appointed maestro di cappella at the Cathedral of Bergamo, succeeding his old teacher Lenzi. He held the post until his death, and became a central figure in the city's musical life, organizing concerts and introducing Ludwig van Beethoven's music there. He was music teacher to Gaetano Donizetti. By the end of his life, he was blind. He is buried in the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, Bergamo, just in front of the tomb of his famous pupil.

Mayr's astonishing list of works, among which are almost seventy operas, are rarely performed today.

Operas

Literature

• Heinrich Bauer: Simon Mayr 1763-1845, Meister der italienischen Oper aus der bayerischen Oberpfalz''. (Munich : Bayer. Vereinsbank), 1983
• Franz Hauk: Johann Simon Mayr und Venedig. (Munich : Katzbichler), 1999. - ISBN 3-87397-1534

Movie

• Martin Pfeil: Der vergessene Musiker: Johann Simon Mayer (1763-1845). INTV Media Ingolstadt, 1995 (VHS, 30 Min.)

External links

• Simon-Mayr-Gesellschaft