Domenico Dragonetti (1763-1846) - Stich von Francesco Bartolozzi, wohl aus dem ersten Jahrzehnt des 19. Jahrhunderts, Fotografie, Wien, um 1915?

Italian double bass player and composer Domenico Dragonetti was one of the great virtuosos of the Beethoven time. He came from Venice and first played there in the San Marco orchestra. Later he moved to London where he played at the opera and on concerts of the Philharmonic Society.

On various journeys the musician came to Vienna and met Ludwig van Beethoven for the first time in 1799. He told the composer about the musical opportunities of the double bass and performed Beethoven's cello sonata in G minor op. 5 No. 2 together with Beethoven. On that occasion, Dragonetti played the cello part on the double bass with unexpected virtuosity. During another stay in Vienna in 1813 Dragonetti took part in the first performance of Beethoven's battle symphony "Wellington's Sieg oder die Schlacht bei Vittoria" op. 91 (Wellington's victory or the battle of Vittoria).

Dargonetti himself composed several works for double bass and edited organ compositions written by Johann Sebastian Bach for double bass and piano.(S.B.)