[František]
Member of Hauser family
(b Krasowitz [now Krasovice], nr Prague, Jan 12, 1794; d Freiburg, Aug 14, 1870). Bohemian baritone and teacher. Having studied with Tomášek in Prague, he sang first with the Prague opera (1817–21, making his début as Sarastro), then in Kassel (1821–5, under Spohr), Dresden (1825–6, under Weber), Frankfurt (1826–9) and Vienna (1829–32). In 1832 he visited London with Wilhelmine Schröder-Devrient. Later engagements took him to Leipzig (1832–5, as regisseur as well as singer), Berlin (1835–6) and Breslau (1836–8). He also made regular guest appearances throughout Germany. On his retirement in 1838 he settled in Vienna as a singing teacher. In 1846 he was appointed director of the newly founded Munich Conservatory. On its reorganization after Wagner's arrival he retired in 1864 and lived at Karlsruhe and Freiburg. According to early critics his style was pure though he was considered cold as an actor; but he gave satisfaction to Weber and was later praised for his interpretations of Mozart's and Rossini's Figaro, Bertram, William Tell and Spohr's Faust. His wide interests won him the friendship of many leading artists and composers, including Mendelssohn, Schumann and Moritz Hauptmann, with whom he often corresponded. As a teacher he was much respected, and among those whom he instructed or advised were Henriette Sontag and Jenny Lind. Hauser's ...