Rode, (Jacques) Pierre (Joseph) (1774–1830)

French violinist and composer. He was appointed solo violinst to Napoleon in 1800, and in 1812 gave the first performance of Beethoven's violin sonata Op. 96, with the Archduke Rudolph playing the piano accompaniment.

After making great progress as a child, he was sent to Paris in 1787 and became a pupil of Giovanni Battista Viotti, making his first public appearance in 1790; he subsequently gave many performances of Viotti's concertos. He joined the orchestra at the Théâtre Feydeau, Paris, and in 1794 began to tour abroad, visiting Holland, Germany, and England. On his return to Paris he became professor at the new Conservatory and leader at the Opéra. In 1799 he visited Spain, where he met Boccherini. In 1800 he became violinist to Napoleon and in 1803 went to St Petersburg with Boieldieu, remaining there until 1808. He travelled in Germany again 1811–13, going to Vienna in 1812, where he gave the first performance of Beethoven's sonata Op. 96. In 1814 he settled in Berlin, where he married, but soon afterwards went to live in retirement near Bordeaux.

Works Works for violin 13 violin concertos; many string quartets; violin duets; 24 caprices, variations, and other pieces.