Wilhelm Emilio Ramsøe (7 February 1837 – 15 April 1895) was a Danish composer, musician and conductor.
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Life
Wilhelm Ramsøe was born in Copenhagen, the second child of five. His father, Emilius Wilhelm Ramsøe (1807–1858) was a professional oboe-player; his mother was Anne (née Rasmussen) (1808–1889). He had four siblings, Kirstine (born 1833), Frederik (born 1840), Louis (born 1843), and Alvilda (born 1846).
He was christened on 21 May 1837 in Garnisons sogn, Copenhagen. Later the family moved to Nørregade, in Nørre Kvarter.
Career
Ramsøe began playing violin at very young age. At 17 years old, he conducted concerts at "Miller's Skuespillerselskab" (actors guild), and later, he travelled through Norway with 'Lewini's Skuespillerselskab.' Between 1857 and 1864, he conducted several concerts and performances at the newly built Alhambra (opened 1857), a 2,000-seat concert hall. It was during this time that Ramsøe established his reputation as a conductor and composer; this led to his appointment as music-director at the then highly popular 'Folketheateret'. From 1864 to 1875 he continued to conduct, whilst also composing and arranging various comedies and Vaudevilles. However, after a 'difference of opinion' with the Folketheateret's director, Michael Wallem Brun, Ramsøe left the theatre and moved to Stockholm, Sweden.
In approximately 1877, he moved to St Petersburg, first working as a viola player in the Italian opera orchestra, and later at the Bolshoi Theatre with the Russian opera orchestra.
In 1887 he was engaged as Royal "music director" at the Mikhaylovsky Theatre, known as the "French Theatre".
He annually returned to Copenhagen for summer vacations, and was more or less a "celebrity" that conducted the symphonic wind band of "Rosenborg Brøndkuranstalt", which played every morning in Rosenborg park.
Marriage and later illness
On 5 September 1863, Ramsøe married Mathilde Marie Strandmann-Petersen (26 January 1841-12 May, 1891), in Copenhagen.
His last years were plagued by bad health; he died in St. Hans Hospital, Roskilde. He was 58 years old.
Contributions
Ramsøe is today most known for: