Photo: After Jacob Wilhelm Mechau · Public domain · credits
Tier 3 · vertical & regional
Georg Benda
Person · male · Germany · Benátky nad Jizerou · born 1722 · died 1795 · recording since 1977
Czech-German composer (1722–1795)
Also known as Georg Anton Benda · Georg Anton Benda · Jiří Antonín Benda · 格奥尔格·安东·本达
Timeline
13 events▣ Album 10◦ Birth 1† Death 1★ Debut release 1
1720s
1790s
1970s
· Debut release
Debut release: Concertos For Harpsichord And Strings
First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
· Album
Album: Sonatas, Sonatinas, Songs. Music from Eighteenth-Century Prague
Album
source: musicbrainz
2020s
· Album
Album: Piano Concerto in F minor / Piano Concerto in G minor / Piano Concerto in G major / Piano Concerto in B minor
Album
source: musicbrainz
Biography
English biography529 words · 3 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1378824076
Biography
Georg Anton Benda (Czech: Jiří Antonín Benda; 30 June 1722 – 6 November 1795) was a Czech composer, violinist and Kapellmeister of the classical period. He was active mostly in German-speaking lands during the Sturm und Drang era.
Biography
Born into a family of notable musicians in Staré Benátky (today Benátky nad Jizerou), Bohemia, he studied at the Piarist Gymnasium (grammar school) in Kosmonosy and at the Jesuit Gymnasium in Jičín from 1735 to 1742. Benda was 19 when Frederick the Great bestowed upon him in 1741 the position of second violinist in the chapel of Berlin. The following year Benda was summoned to Potsdam as a composer and arranger for his older brother Franz, himself an illustrious composer and violinist. Seven years later, in 1749, he entered the service of the Duke of Gotha as Kapellmeister, where he constantly cultivated his talents for composition, specializing in religious music.
A stipend from the duke allowed Benda to take a study trip to Italy in 1764. He returned to Gotha in 1766, and devoted himself to composition. In all, he wrote about ten operas, several operettas, and the melodramas Ariadne auf Naxos, Medea and Almansor und Nadine. In 1778 he resigned his position and visited Hamburg, Vienna and other cities, and finally settled at the little hamlet of Köstritz.
Benda's most important contribution lies in the development of the German melodramas, a form of musical stage entertainment which influenced Mozart. In 1774, the Swiss-born director Abel Seyler's theatrical company arrived in Gotha, and Seyler commissioned Benda to write several successful melodramas, including Ariadne auf Naxos, Medea and Pygmalion. Ariadne auf Naxos is generally considered his best work. At its debut in 1775, the opera received enthusiastic reviews in Germany and afterwards, in the whole of Europe, with music critics calling attention to its originality, sweetness, and ingenious execution. Besides that he wrote many instrumental pieces including many sinfonias, keyboard sonatas, keyboard concertos, violin concertos and a smaller number of trio sonatas, violin sonatas and flute sonatas.
Benda also wrote music for masonic rituals.
Benda died in Köstritz, Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, at the age of 73, leaving his son, Friedrich Ludwig Benda (1752–1796), who briefly carried on the family musical tradition, serving as a music director in Hamburg and later at Ludwigslust Castle in Mecklenburg, before finally becoming the concertmaster in Königsberg. He died less than a year after his father.
Benda's Harpsichord Concerto in C was featured in Apple Computer's 1987 Knowledge Navigator concept video.
Operas and melodramas
Xindo riconosciuto (libretto by Giovanni Andrea Galletti, opera seria, 1765, Gotha)
Il buon marito (libretto by Galletti, Intermezzo, 1766, Gotha)
Il nuove maestro di capella (Intermezzo, 1766, Gotha)
Ariadne auf Naxos (libretto by Johann Christian Brandes, melodrama, 1775, Gotha)
Der Jahrmarkt (Der Dorfjahrmarkt/Lukas und Bärbchen) (libretto by Friedrich Wilhelm Gotter, Singspiel, 1775, Gotha)
Medea (libretto by Gotter, melodrama, 1775, Leipzig)
Walder (libretto by Gotter, Singspiel, 1776, Gotha)
Romeo und Julie (libretto by Gotter, Singspiel, 1776, Gotha)
Der Holzhauer oder Die drey Wünsche (libretto by Gotter, Singspiel, 1778, Gotha)
Pygmalion (libretto by Gotter, melodrama, 1779, Vienna)
Philon und Theone, revised as Almansor und Nadine (1791), (unknown librettist, melodrama, 1779, Vienna)
Das tartarische Gesetz (libretto by Gotter, Singspiel, 1787, Mannheim)
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 26 | 87.5th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 11 | 82.8th |
| Studio albums | 11 | 91.9th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 13 | 89.7th |
| Recording span (years) | -182 | 3.7th |
| Genres | 2 | 74th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (11 release groups · 11 studio albums)
Albums · 11
Concertos For Harpsichord And Strings
1977 · studio album
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Tracklist · 9 tracks · 47:15
A1Concerto In F Minor: I. Allegro6:20A2Concerto In F Minor: II. Larghetto7:15A3Concerto In F Minor: III. Allegretto Di Molto4:10A4Concerto In B Minor: I. Allegro5:40B1Concerto In B Minor: II. Arioso. Andante6:00B2Concerto In B Minor: III. Allegro4:50B3Concerto In G Major : I. Allegro Moderato6:30B4Concerto In G Major : II. Andante Con Moto4:30B5Concerto In G Major : III. Allegro Scherzando2:00Concertos for Harpsichord and Strings
1980 · studio album
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Tracklist · 18 tracks · 1:39:55
A1Concerto In G Major: I. Allegro non tanto8:00A2Concerto In G Major: II. Andante7:40A3Concerto In G Major: III. Allegretto4:35A4Concerto In D Major: I. (Allegro)5:50B1Concerto In D Major: II. Andante ma moderato5:45B2Concerto In D Major: III. Allegro3:35B3Concerto In C Major: I. Mezzo Allegro6:05B4Concerto In C Major: II. Andante moderato4:40B5Concerto In C Major: III. Allegro3:55C1Concerto In G Minor: I. Allegro non troppo6:25C2Concerto In G Minor: II. Andante6:40C3Concerto In G Minor: III. Presto5:40C4Divertimento In G Major: I. Allegro4:05C5Divertimento In G Major: II. Andante con moto3:00D1Divertimento In G Major: III. Allegro assai4:15D2Concerto In F Major: I. Allegro6:25D3Concerto In F Major: II. Andantino quasi Allegretto8:00D4Concerto In F Major: III. Allegro assai5:201995 · studio album
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Tracklist · 18 tracks · 55:19
1Sinfonia in D major, no. 1: I. Allegro2:502Sinfonia in D major, no. 1: II. Andante4:583Sinfonia in D major, no. 1: III. Allegro di molto2:174Sinfonia in G major, no. 2: I. Allegro2:155Sinfonia in G major, no. 2: II. Andante3:046Sinfonia in G major, no. 2: III. Allegro2:337Sinfonia in C major, no. 3: I. Allegro2:398Sinfonia in C major, no. 3: II. Andante sempre piano2:029Sinfonia in C major, no. 3: III. Allegro2:0610Sinfonia in F major, no. 4: I. Allegro2:2311Sinfonia in F major, no. 4: II. Andante2:5812Sinfonia in F major, no. 4: III. Allegro2:0413Sinfonia in G major, no. 5: I. Allegro5:3114Sinfonia in G major, no. 5: II. Andante molto3:2515Sinfonia in G major, no. 5: III. Tempo di minuetto3:1616Sinfonia in E-flat major, no. 6: I. Allegro4:5517Sinfonia in E-flat major, no. 6: II. Andante2:5518Sinfonia in E-flat major, no. 6: III. Allegro3:081995 · studio album
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Tracklist · 18 tracks · 56:54
1Sinfonia in D major, no. 7: I. Allegro assai3:182Sinfonia in D major, no. 7: II. Larghetto4:213Sinfonia in D major, no. 7: III. Presto3:104Sinfonia in D major, no. 8: I. Allegro2:485Sinfonia in D major, no. 8: II. Andante3:006Sinfonia in D major, no. 8: III. Spirituoso1:397Sinfonia in A major, no. 9: I. Allegro2:408Sinfonia in A major, no. 9: I. Arioso con sordini5:559Sinfonia in A major, no. 9: III. Allegro3:5910Sinfonia in G major, no. 10: I. Allegro scherzando2:3011Sinfonia in G major, no. 10: II. Andante0:2112Sinfonia in G major, no. 10: III. Allegro ma moderato1:2813Sinfonia in F major, no. 11: I. Allegro2:2614Sinfonia in F major, no. 11: II. Larghetto4:4515Sinfonia in F major, no. 11: III. Allegro3:0616Sinfonia in A major, no. 12: I. Allegro3:0917Sinfonia in A major, no. 12: II. Andantino semper piano3:5018Sinfonia in A major, no. 12: III. Allegro4:29Melodramas: Ariadne auf Naxos / Pygmalion
1996 · studio album
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Tracklist · 2 tracks · 1:09:35
1Ariadne auf Naxos41:222Pygmalion28:132005 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 1:08:37
1Concerto in F minor; I. Allegro6:362Concerto in F minor: II. Larghetto7:073Concerto in F minor: III. Allegro di molto3:594Concerto in F major: I. Allegro6:225Concerto in F major: II. Andantino quasi allegretto8:286Concerto in F major: III. Allegro assai, più presto5:347Concerto in G major: I. Allegro moderato5:488Concerto in G major: II. Andante con moto4:559Concerto in G major: III. Allegro scherzando2:1510Concerto in B Minor: I. Allegro6:2111Concerto in B Minor: II. Arioso. Andante6:1012Concerto in B Minor: III. Allegro5:02Mozart in the Age of Enlightenment
2006 · studio album
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Tracklist · 15 tracks · 1:15:10
1Sonata in G major: Allegro4:362Sonata in G major: Alla polacca Andantino1:363Sonata in G major: Rondeau Allegro2:164Sonata in A minor, KV 310: Allegro maestoso6:045Sonata in A minor, KV 310: Andante cantabile con espressione9:166Sonata in A minor, KV 310: Presto3:397Sonata in F-sharp minor: Allegro non troppo7:098Sonata in F-sharp minor: Larghetto2:089Sonata in F-sharp minor: Allegretto5:1810Sonata 15 in C minor: Allegro ma non troppo3:0611Sonata 15 in C minor: Andante2:2212Sonata 15 in C minor: Allegro4:5813Sonata in B-flat major, KV 333: Allegro8:0414Sonata in B-flat major, KV 333: Andante cantabile7:4615Sonata in B-flat major, KV 333: Allegretto grazioso6:52Harpsichord Concertos, Vol. II
2007 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 1:00:26
1Concerto in G major - Allegro4:522Concerto in G major - Largo4:103Concerto in G major - Allegro4:504Concerto in D major - Allegro6:195Concerto in D major - Andante5:156Concerto in D major - Allegro4:117Concerto in F major - Allegretto6:408Concerto in F major - Andante5:439Concerto in F major - Allegro4:0610Concerto in C major - Mezzo Allegro5:0711Concerto in C major - Andante Moderato5:1012Concerto in C major - Allegro4:03Sonatas, Sonatinas, Songs. Music from Eighteenth-Century Prague
2015 · studio album
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Tracklist · 25 tracks · 1:15:34
1Sonata in F major: I: Allegro assai moderato - Allegro6:452Sonata in F major: II: Andantino un poco larghetto3:333Sonata in F major: III: Allegro3:504Mit Lauretten, seiner Freude1:355Sonatina in B flat major. Allegro1:476Du, kleine, Blondine bezauberst ja schon1:457Sonatina in F major. Allegro moderato1:598Mir Armen, den des Fiebers Kraft0:549Sonatina in D major. Presto1:1810Hüpft, ihr wollenreichen Herden2:2111Sonata for Violin and Harpsichord in G major: I. Mezzo allegro6:4712Sonata for Violin and Harpsichord in G major II. Andantino3:0713Sonata for Violin and Harpsichord in G major: III. Allegro4:3014Mein Geliebter hat versprochen1:4015Sonatina in G minor1:3416Romanze: Ein Mädchen, das auf Ehre hielt2:2017Sonata in C minor: I. Allegro non troppo4:4218Sonata in C minor: II. Un poco largo3:1319Sonata in C minor: III. Allegro3:2320Ich liebte nur Ismenen2:4421Sonatina in C major. Allegretto2:3422Heraklit, gleich stumpfen Greisen2:2323Sonata in F major: I. Allegro ma non troppo5:0824Sonata in F major: II. Andante con moto2:1525Sonata in F major: III. Allegro3:272021 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 1:20:43
1Piano Concerto in F minor: Allegro6:542Piano Concerto in F minor: Larghetto7:313Piano Concerto in F minor: Allegro di molto4:394Piano Concerto in G minor: Allegro non troppo7:125Piano Concerto in G minor: Andante6:396Piano Concerto in G minor: Presto5:537Piano Concerto in G major: Non tanto allegro8:398Piano Concerto in G major: Andante8:329Piano Concerto in G major: Allegretto5:1910Piano Concerto in B minor: Allegro6:1711Piano Concerto in B minor: Arioso7:2812Piano Concerto in B minor: Allegro5:40— · studio album
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Tracklist · 23 tracks · 51:25
1Gott ist die Liebe: Festo Pentecostes - Coro a 4: Gott ist die Liebe1:292Gott ist die Liebe: Festo Pentecostes - Recitativo a 4: Geht, Menschen hin zu der Natur1:503Gott ist die Liebe: Festo Pentecostes - Quartetto a 4: Auf, Geister des Himmels4:184Gott ist die Liebe: Festo Pentecostes - Chorale: Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt1:055Man singet mit Freuden: Festo Paschali - Coro a 4: Man singet mit Freuden1:376Man singet mit Freuden: Festo Paschali - Aria: Wein nicht mehr betrubte Seelen6:257Man singet mit Freuden: Festo Paschali - Recitativo: Gottlob! Das Grab ist leer0:558Man singet mit Freuden: Festo Paschali - Coro a 4: Man singet mit Freuden1:399Der Glaube kann Gott der Allmachtigen zwingen: Dominica 19 post S. Trinitatis - Coro a 4: Der Galube kann Gott2:3510Der Glaube kann Gott der Allmachtigen zwingen: Dominica 19 post S. Trinitatis - Recitativo: Herr, diese Kraft1:3111Der Glaube kann Gott der Allmachtigen zwingen: Dominica 19 post S. Trinitatis - Aria: Entzunde Du die Flammen2:4012Der Glaube kann Gott der Allmachtigen zwingen: Dominica 19 post S. Trinitatis - Chorale: Allein zu Dir Herr Jesu Christ1:2013Der Glaube kann Gott der Allmachtigen zwingen: Dominica 19 post S. Trinitatis - Aria: Im Leben will ich Dich bekennen5:0214Der Glaube kann Gott der Allmachtigen zwingen: Dominica 19 post S. Trinitatis - Recitativo a 4: So sei es denn gewagt mit Dir!1:0415Der Glaube kann Gott der Allmachtigen zwingen: Dominica 19 post S. Trinitatis - Der Glaube kann Gott2:3716Weihnachtmusik 1784 - Coro a 4: Gott steigt herab1:4217Weihnachtmusik 1784 - Aria: Das ist mein Gott5:2618Weihnachtmusik 1784 - Recitativo: Herr! Ich bin Erde1:1619Weihnachtmusik 1784 - Chorale: Gelobet seist Du Jesu Christ0:4720Weihnachtmusik 1784 - Duetto&Coro a 4: Ach, dass wir viel zu arm2:2321Weihnachtmusik 1784 - Recitativo: Seid Christen ganz Gefuhl1:1322Weihnachtmusik 1784 - Coro a 4: Gott steigt herab1:4223Weihnachtmusik 1784 - Das hat er alles uns getan0:49
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put Georg Benda head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 26 | 87.5th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 11 | 82.8th |
| Studio albums | 11 | 91.9th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 13 | 89.7th |
| Recording span (years) | -182 | 3.7th |
| Genres | 2 | 74th |
Awards & honours
Where this record comes from
portrait—Wikimedia Commons · Public domain · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Georg_Benda.jpgaliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/2dffa2d9-3b13-420d-b6a7-84ca62763a41discography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/2dffa2d9-3b13-420d-b6a7-84ca62763a41core—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q213535genre—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q213535seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georg_Bendabiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georg_Benda
Why this artist is in the database
- List of composers by name
Tier rule: notable long tail (listeners 0, 26 language versions)
Image: After Jacob Wilhelm Mechau · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata: Q213535 · MusicBrainz: 2dffa2d9-3b13-420d-b6a7-84ca62763a41
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