BENDL

bendl, karel or karl (1838-1897), bohemian composer, was born on the 16th of april 1838 at prague. he studied at the organ school, and in 1858 had already composed a number of small choral works. in 1861 his _poletuje holubice_ won a prize and at once became a favourite with the local choral societies. in 1864 bendl went to brussels, where for a short time he held the post of second conductor of the opera. after visiting amsterdam and paris he returned to prague. here in 1865 he was appointed conductor of the choral society known as _hlahoe_, and he held the post until 1879, when baron dervies engaged his services for his private band. bendl's first opera _lejla_ was successfully produced in 1868. it was followed by _bretislav a jitka_ (1870), _stary zenich_, a comic opera (1883), _karel skreta_ (1883), _dite tabera_, a prize opera (1892), and _matki mila_ (1891). other operas by bendl are _indicka princezna, cernohorci_, a prize opera, and the two operas _carovny kvet_ and _gina_. his ballad _svanda dudak_ acquired much popularity; he published a mass in d minor for male voices and another mass for a mixed choir; two songs to _ave maria_; a violin sonata and a string quartet in f; and a quantity of songs and choruses, many of which have come to be regarded as national possessions of bohemia. bendl died on the 20th of september 1897 at prague.