Reissiger, Karl (Gottlieb) (1798-1859)

German composer and conductor. In 1842 he conducted the first performance of Wagner's first major success, Rienzi, and in the following year Wagner became his deputy conductor. He was a respected teacher; Clara Schumann was among his pupils.

He studied under his father, the cantor and composer Christian Gottlieb Reissiger (1762-1839), and with Johann Schicht at St Thomas's School, Leipzig. Later he studied in Vienna and with Peter Winter at Munich, toured in Holland, France, and Italy in 1824, and in 1826 succeeded Weber as conductor of the Dresden opera.

Works Opera and stage operas Dido (1824), Libella (1829), Turandot (after Gozzi, 1835), Die Felsenmühle zu Estalières (1831), and others; melodrama Yelva.

Choral oratorio David, nine Masses, motets and other church music.

Chamber piano concerto, piano trios, and other chamber music; piano pieces, including Danses brillantes (with Webers letzter Gedanke).