Christian Gottlob Neefe (1748-1798) - Stich von Heinrich Philipp Boßler nach einem eigenen Schattenriss, Speyer, 1784

Beethoven"s most important music teacher in Bonn was Christian Gottlob Neefe, a composer from Chemnitz. In 1779 he came to Bonn where he started working as a music director at the princely theater and became court organist in 1782. He relocated to Dessau in 1796 and worked as music director at the Bossansche theater society.

Neefe had many talents. Besides instrumental and vocal music he also composed quite successful musical comedies, operettas and operas such as "Die Apotheke" (The pharmacy) or "Adelheid von Weltheim" (Adelheid from Weltheim). In addition, he translated Italian and French opera lyrics.

Neefe gave the young Ludwig van Beethoven piano and thorough-bass lessons and taught him composition. He soon noticed his pupil"s ability and wrote about Beethoven in the magazine "Magazin der Musik", published by Carl Friedrich Cramer, saying that Beethoven would certainly become a second Amadeus Mozart if he continued the way he started. Beethoven on his part appreciated his teacher and always knew how much he owned him. (S.B.)