According to Grieg, Svendsen was his compliment, for Svendsen had command of everything that Grieg did not. Svendsen began his career as a violinist though his first performance was on the clarinet. He clearly became a virtuoso performer on the violin and was invited to play at the laying of the Foundation Stone for the theater in Beyreuth. This was under the baton of Wagner, who conducted Beethoven's "Ninth Symphony." Svendsen studied at Leipzig Conservatory where he was a pupil of David, Hauptmann, Reinecke and Richter. While studying in Leipzig his musical interest switched from violin to composition. His first performed composition, "String Quintet, Opus 3" was well-received as were other early compositions like "Symphony No. 1," opus 4, and "String Quintet," opus 5. Though he spent time in Italy, which he did not find musically stimulating, Paris, which he did, Svendsen was quite impressed by his work with Wagner and his return home to Norway. He conducted the Christiania Musical Society from 1871 until 1877 and also conducted the first performance in Norway of Beethoven's "Ninth Symphony." During his time with the Musical Society, Svendsen composed his most famous works including "Zorahayda," "Romeo og Julie," "Symphony No. 2," and "Romance for Violin and Orchestra." By 1883 he was conducting the Royal Opera, of Copenhagen. In his compositions he had mastered the orchestra and the classical form. As a conductor orchestra's respected him for his knowledge of the music, pacing of the tempos and clearly articulated and precise conducting. His two symphonies remain a part of the Norwegian repertoire. ~ Keith Johnson, Rovi