BERLIJN, ANTON

BERLIJN, ANTON (Aron Wolf; 1817–1870), Dutch composer, born in Amsterdam. He was for many years conductor and director of the Royal Theater, and was made a member of the Order of Merit by King William III of the Netherlands. Other monarchs (of Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Sweden, and Austria) also decorated him. He founded many choral groups, wrote liturgical works for the synagogue, and composed a large body of other music. His compositions included nine operas (of which Die Bergknappen and Proserpina became popular), an oratorio Moses auf Nebo, a symphony (performed by Spohr at Cassel, 1857), seven ballets, and a cantata. His archives, including correspondence with Mendelssohn and Meyerbeer, among others, are preserved at the National and University Library, Jerusalem. -BIBLIOGRAPHY: Grove, Dict; Baker, Biog Dict; Riemann-Gurlitt; Sendrey, Music, index. (Dora Leah Sowden)