Scan 89
The American History and Encyclopedia of music Music Biographies Vol.1, 1910
12 lines. Read by computer on 15 September 2026. Printed page 71. See the scan on archive.org.
1Bertini
2father and afterward under his older brother Auguste, who was a pupil of Clementi. Henri began playing in public very early and at twelve was taken on a concert tour through the Netherlands and Germany by his father. After studying some time longer in Paris, he made visits to England and Scotland, but returned to Paris, in 1821, and remained there until 1856, when he retired to his villa at Meylan near Grenoble, where he lived in seclusion until his death. His best known works are his études for the piano, which are noted for their technical construction, their fine harmony and beautiful melody and which are very valuable for study. He also wrote many other piano compositions, a number of pieces for piano and strings and piano and wind-instruments, also three symphonies for piano and orchestra.
4Bertinotti (běr-tin-nōt'-tē), Teresa. 1776-1854.
5A very successful Italian soprano. She was born at Savigliano in northern Italy and died at Bologna. Her parents moved to Naples when Teresa was two years old and in this city at the age of four she began receiving instruction in music. She was gifted with remarkable beauty as well as musical talent, and having had the benefit of excellent training, her appearance in various Italian cities, Florence, Milan, Venice and Turin, was attended with the greatest success. In Venice she married Felice Radicati, a violinist and composer, but on the stage retained the name of Bertinotti. She was immensely popular in Vienna, sang before the court at Munich and was invited by the King of Holland to visit The Hague. In London she was very well liked in Mozart's opera Cosi fan tutte and the Flauto Magico, and through Madame Bertinotti's influence various Mozart operas were produced in London at this time, about 1810 to 1812. Following her visit to England she returned to Italy. In 1823 her husband, who was settled at Bologna, met with an accident that resulted in his death, at which time she retired from the stage. After her retirement, Madame Bertinotti became esteemed as a teacher of singing.
7Berton
8Berton (ber-tōn), Henri Montan. 1767-1844.
9French opera composer who was very popular in his day. He was the son of a distinguished father, Pierre Montan Berton, musical composer and conductor; and father of François Berton, a composer and teacher of some note. Henri was born in Paris and at a very early age evinced decided musical talent; when only six years old he could read music readily, and at fifteen was violinist in an opera orchestra. He studied under Rey and Sacchini, but his works suggest want of a systematic education. A great deal of Berton's knowledge of music was obtained from the operas he attended, wherefore in his compositions there is much that is reminiscent. Among the first to give Berton recognition as a writer, was the dramatic composer Sacchini, at the time residing in Paris, who saw no little promise in a work of Berton's brought to his notice, it is said, by the celebrated singer, Mlle. Mailard, mother of Berton's illegitimate son, the François referred to above. After winning some success as a writer of oratorios, Berton turned his attention to the field of light opera. In 1787 a favorable reception was given two operas of his, Les promesses de mariage and La Dame invisible; the latter opera written during the early days of his passion for Mlle. Mailard, who, it would seem, both inspired the work and was successful in bringing it into notice.
11Berton has rank among the masters of French comic opera, but not a pre-eminent place. While bits of his operas keep their popularity, the works themselves have fallen into obscurity. He was the author of more than forty operas, also of oratorios and cantatas. Special mention may be made of the operas Le Délire, Aline, ou la Reine de Golconde, and Françoise de Foix. Montano et Stéphanie is his most ambitious work. Henri Berton held various posts of honor in Paris, was professor of harmony at the Conservatory, later of composition; in 1807 was conductor of Italian Opera; in 1815 was made member of the Institute of France. He was esteemed both at home and abroad, but his last days were shadowed by waning popularity and financial loss.
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