The New International Encyclopædia/Weigl, Joseph

WEIGL, vī′g’l, Joseph (1766-1846). An Austrian composer, born at Eisenstadt, Hungary. He studied with Albrechtsberger and Salieri, and when but sixteen years of age wrote an opera, Die unnütze Vorsicht. His first opera produced, however, was Il pazzo per forza, which appeared in 1788 and was very successful. Encouraged by this, he brought out—between that year and 1825—thirty more operas, both Italian and German, besides a number of ballets. He also wrote two oratorios and many German and Italian cantatas. Upon the death of Salieri, in 1825, he received the position of second Court conductor and devoted his entire time to masses, offertories, and graduals. His opera Die Schweizer Familie, produced at Vienna in 1809, became popular.