Antonín Kraft (1749-1820)
- Premier Concerto Pour le Violoncelle composé et dédié à
Monsieur
le Comte Maur. de Fries Chambellan de S.M.I. ... Oeuvre 4 (c.1805)
Performers: Alexander Rudin (cello); Musica Viva Orchestra; Matthew
Halls (conductor)
Further info: Premier Concerto Pour le Violoncelle
---
Bohemian cellist and composer. He was the son of Franz Kraft, a brewer
and amateur musician who was his first teacher. He later was sent to
Eisenstadt to study under Gregor Joseph Werner. Probably through
Werner's connections as former cellist to the court of Count Morzin, he
was engaged as principal cellist in the Kapelle of Prince Nikolaus
Esterházy in 1778, a post he retained until the orchestra was dissolved
in 1790, and where he studied composition with Joseph Haydn. After 1790
he also served with the orchestras of Count Anton Grassalkovich and
Prince Lobkowitz. From 1793 he performed with other prominent Viennese
musicians at Prince Lichnowsky's Friday morning chamber music recitals,
which led to the establishment of the famous 'Schuppanzigh string
quartet' with Kraft as cellist. He became a favourite in performances of
early chamber works by Beethoven. He was appointed cello teacher at the
conservatory of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in 1819, but died the
following year. As a composer, he wrote a cello concerto, six cello
sonatas, seven duos for strings, a notturno, and a number of trios
featuring the baryton. He married Maria Anna Schevitzka and had at least
five children, among them, Mikuláš (Nikolaus) Kraft (1778-1853), also
cellist and composer.
Cap comentari:
Publica un comentari a l'entrada