Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major for Horn and Orchestra
Othon Joseph Vandenbroek (often wrongly spelled Vandenbrock or Van den Broeck), born 20 December 1758 in Ypres (Flanders), died 18 October 1832 in Passy (Paris).
Vandenbroek was probably of Dutch origin. He was trained in The Hague by the horn virtuoso Spandau (active c. 1770–1780). He studied theory with Fuchs, Kapellmeister to the Prince of Orange, and composition with J. Schmitt. In 1781 he was a member of the orchestra at the Théâtre français in Maastricht. He must have gone to Paris in 1783, since in January 1784 he played a horn concerto at the Concert Spirituel. The editor of the Mercure de France considered him not yet mature enough to perform before a Parisian audience. By 1788, however, he was appearing as a successful horn virtuoso at the Concerts de la Loge Olympique.
His name appears on the rosters of several orchestras: he was principal horn at the Théâtre de la rue Feydeau (1789–1791), fourth horn at the Opéra (1793–1816) and a musician of the “1re classe” in the Garde Nationale. In 1795 he became a professor at the Conservatoire de Musique, but gave up the post in 1800 during the “Réforme de l’an VIII”. In 1812 he was “attaché à la chapelle de l’Empereur et Roi”, and in 1816 he retired.
