REICHARDT, JOHANN FRIEDRICH ( 1752 1814). A German composer, conductor, and writer on music, born at Kiinigsberg. He had good musical training, and studied philosophy at KOnigsberg and Leipzig. In 1775, upon the death of Agricola, lie obtained the position of Kapell meister at Berlin. During an extended leave of absence in London and Paris 11785 to 1786) he brought out his Passion music (alter Metastasio) in both cities. lie was connuissioned to write two operas. Tninerlan and Pi/nth,,.. for the Grand Op4•ra : hut the death of Frederick 11. made it necessary for him to return at once to Berlin and the operas were not produced. Under Frederick William IL, he was permitted to in crease the orchestra and obtain new -dupers from Daly. but later was suspended for three years and finally dismissed in 1794, on account of hid sympathy with the French Revolution. Upon the death of the King he returned to Berlin, but the French occupation, in 1806, drove him back to Ki;nigsberg. Jerome Bonaparte. however. forced
him to return, and appointed him Kapellineister at Cassel. He composed numerous German and Italian operas. incidental music to plays. and Singspide which had considerable influence on the development of German opera. As a song com poser lie rank: high. He set about 60 of t:oethe's lyrics to music. He published : rebel- deutsche kcanisehe Opel. Beige nines au f Inca:5(11mA Beisen den, die .11 usik betreffend (1111-76) : Studicn fiir Tank iinst ler and 1l asikfreande (1793) ; Fee &aide Briefe aus Paris (1804-05) : and l'crtrau te Briefe, gesehrieben au f eine). Heise noel: Wien (1810), all of which are of permanent value. For his lite consult Schletterer (Augsburg, 1865-68).