Weigl, Joseph (1766–1846)

Austrian composer, son of Joseph Franz Weigl and godson of Haydn. A pupil of Albrechtsberger and Salieri, he was the latter's deputy at the court opera in Vienna from 1790 and succeeded him as conductor and composer in 1792. He visited Italy to produce operas in 1807–08 and again in 1815, but shortly afterwards withdrew from opera composition and wrote mainly church music. He became vice-Kapellmeister at the Viennese court in 1827.

Works over 30 operas, for example Der Schureizerfamilie and Singspiels (1809), for example Die betrogene Arglist (1783), Das Waisenhaus (1808), and Die Schweizerfamilie (1809); Der Bergsturz (1813); 18 ballets; incidental music; 11 masses and other church music; cantatas, arias, songs.