Ferdinand Ries (1784-1838) was Beethoven’s pupil, secretary and loyal friend. He was a talented pianist and went on to compose 180 works. Like Beethoven, Ries was also born in Bonn. He journeyed to Vienna at the age of 19 to learn from the great composer. In 1838, Ries and Beethoven’s friend Franz Wegeler published a joint effort biographical text, …
Schuppanzigh (1776-1830) was Beethoven’s violin teacher, friend and lifelong champion from the composer’s arrival in Vienna until his passing. He rehearsed and performed the string quartets and played at the premiere of every symphony Beethoven composed. In this article, you will read about the relationship between Schuppanzigh and Beethoven, how the composer would mercilessly tease his friend about his weight, …
They say you should never meet your hero in person. Ignaz Moscheles did and still remained a fan. How did it happen? Who was Ignaz Moscheles? Isaac Ignaz Moscheles (23 May 1794– 10 March 1870) was a composer and piano virtuoso from Bohemia. He was born in Prague into a German speaking Jewish family. His father was a merchant, …
Who was Franz Clement? Franz Joseph Clement (November 17, 1780 Vienna – November 3, 1842 Vienna) was an Austrian violinist and composer, director and concertmaster of the Theater an der Wien. Young Franz played the violin since the age of four. His main teacher was his father who was a butler for a nobleman and a member of his house …
Take a showman and inventor, add a grumpy genius composer, shake it well and see what happens! Read on to discover this friendship and the achievements they realized together! Who was Johann Maelzel? Maelzel (sometimes Mälzel, August 15, 1772 – July 21, 1838) was a German inventor, born in Regensburg. His father was an organ builder who made sure …
This is the story of Baron de Trémont, a French diplomat in Vienna, who approached Beethoven and against all odds managed to tame the bear. Who was Baron de Trémont? Louis-Philippe-Joseph Girod de Vienney, Baron de Trémont (born 2 October 1799, died 1 July, 1852) was a French officer and diplomat. For us, more importantly he was a musical …