Bergson, Bergsohn, Michał, *20 May 1820 Warsaw, †9 March 1898 Shepherds Bush (London), Polish pianist and composer of Jewish origin. Initially, he learnt music in Warsaw, then he studied in Dessau with F. Schneider (composition) and in Berlin with K.F. Rungenhagen and W. Taubert. In 1840, he left for piano studies to Paris. In 1846–50, he was in Italy (Florence, Bologna, Rome). In 1847, he staged his opera Luisa di Montfort in Livorno, Florence and other Italian cities. In 1850–1853, he was in Vienna, Berlin, Leipzig and Hamburg, later he moved to Paris, where he gave concerts, performing mainly his own compositions. In 1859, he staged fragments of the operetta Qui va à la chasse perd sa place in Paris. In 1963, he became a professor, and later a director of conservatory in Geneva. After a few years, he moved to Paris, later to London, where he gave piano lessons.
Literature: W. Sowiński Słownik Muzyków Polskich, Paris 1874, reprint Warsaw 1978; J. Reiss Bergson Michał, Polski Słownik Biograficzny, vol. I, Kraków 1935.
Instrumental:
orchestral:
Piano Concerto Op. 62, premiered at the 24th Jewish Day, 14, 17 January 2021 Jonathan Plowright
chamber:
Trio for piano, violin and cello
3 Duets for violin (clarinet) and piano
Grand duo dramatique for cello and piano, Op. 40
Grande polonaise héroïque for violin (cello) and piano, Op. 72
Sonata for flute and piano
for piano:
Mazurkas Op. 1
Le Rhin Op. 21
Impromptu Mazourka Op. 35
Scène italienne. Caprice brillant Op. 36
Grand caprice hongrois Op. 42
Deux mazurkas Op. 48
Le Tatamaque. Danse havanaise Op. 51
Danse de paysans polonais Op. 56
12 nouvelles études caractéristiques Op. 60
École nouvelle du mécanisme Op. 65
polonaises, ballads, waltzes, fantasies and paraphrases on opera themes
Vocal-instrumental:
solo songs with piano, including mazurka La pêche au fiancés (about throwing wreaths on St. John’s Eve), Paris 1859
Scenic:
operas:
Luisa di Montfort, 4-act, staged in Livorno 1847
Salvator Rosa (manuscript)
Qui va à la chasse perd sa place, operetta 1-act, staged in Paris 1859.
Luisa di Montfort, 4-aktowa, wyst. Livorno 1847
Salvator Rosa (rkp.)
Qui va à la chasse perd sa place, operetka 1-aktowa, wyst. Paryż 1859.
