Jan Nepomuk Maýr

Jan Nepomuk Maýr (sometimes spelled Mayr, Mayer, or Maier; 17 February 1818 – 25 October 1888) was a Czech operatic tenor, opera director, conductor, composer and music educator. He is best remembered today for serving as the first director/principal conductor of the Provisional Theatre in Prague. Biography Born in Mělník, Maýr began his career working as an opera singer at the opera house in Klagenfurt in 1839. From 1842–1844 he worked at various theatres in Prague, after which he was committed to the opera house in Darmstadt from 1844–1846. At the behest of František Ladislav Rieger, he returned to Prague in 1846 to become a principal singer at the Estates Theatre. His singing was praised by Czech audiences but his acting was found to be wanting. He was eventually appointed the house’s chorus master at the beginning of the 1848–1849 season. By 1851 Maýr was no longer appearing in opera roles, but was now working as a conductor of a number of different musical ensembles in Prague; including choirs in various cathedrals in the city (such as the Our Lady of the Snows Basilica). He left his position as chorus master at the Estates Theatre in 1853 to focus on his career as a conductor