Jiri Antonin (Georg) Benda was appointed a violinist in the court orchestra in Potsdam. Benda later accepted the position of Kapellmeister to Duke Friederich III. Benda contributed enormously to Germany’s musical development introducing his Italian opera seria Xindo riconnosciuto, commissioned by the Duchess Luise Dorothea. Even more important - Benda was responsible to popularize the form of melodrama.