Romberg, Bernhard (1767–1841)

German cellist and composer, cousin of Andreas Romberg. He was a pupil of his father, Anton Romberg, and appeared at the age of seven with his cousin and in Paris at 14.

He was in the electoral orchestra at Bonn 1790–93, together with Andreas, Beethoven, Reicha, and Ferdinand Ries; then, until 1796, he was in Italy, Spain, and Portugal with Andreas. After visits to Vienna and Hamburg he taught the cello at the Paris Conservatory 1801–03, and 1804–06 he was cellist in the royal orchestra in Berlin, where he was court music director 1815–19. He retired to Hamburg in 1819 after a tour in Russia. He also visited London, Paris, Vienna, St Petersburg, and Moscow.

Works Opera Don Mendoce, ou le tuteur portugais (with Andreas Romberg), Die wiedergefundene Statue (after Gozzi, composed 1792), Der Schiffbruch, Alma, Ulysses und Circe (1807), Rittertreue.

Orchestral and chamber ten cello concertos, concerto for two cello, funeral symphony for Queen Louise of Prussia, 11 string quartets, piano quartets and other chamber music, cello pieces.