George Frederick Bristow Born: 19 Dec. 1825, Brooklyn, NY Died: 13 Dec. 1898, New York, NY

(U.S. Opera Home Page)

• Rip Van Winkle. Libretto by Jonathan Howard Wainwright after the story by Washington Irving. (27 Sep. 1855, Niblo's Garden, NY; semi-professional revival, 2-3 Feb. 1974, University of Illinois, American Music Group)
• Columbus [inc.]
• King of the Mountains [inc]

Rip Van Winkle, Bristow's only completed opera, was the second opera by an American performed by a professional company; it was also the first on an American subject, Washington Irving's short story of the same title. The opera was well recieved by the public despite some criticism of Wainwright's libretto. Bristow was a contemporary of William Henry Fry, and, like him, relied heavily on European models in his composition. Different sources give two different titles for the opera he was working on at the time of his death: Columbus and King of the Mountains. It is not clear whether this refers to one or two works, but an overture to Columbus certainly exists.