Anton Reicha (1770-1836) - Stich von Charles Constans nach einem Gemälde von L. Walter

The young Czech musician Anton Reicha came to Bonn in 1785 together with his uncle Josef Reicha (1746-1836). He became flutist in the orchestra of the elector and that is how he got to know Ludwig van Beethoven, since he, too, was musician at the court orchestra in Bonn. The two musicians became close friends and together, they enrolled themselves at the University of Bonn which was lead by the elector.

When the threat to the Rhineland by the French revolutionary army became worse, Reicha left Bonn and lived in Hamburg at first and in Paris thereafter. In 1802, he moved to Vienna, where he met Beethoven again. Beethoven had lived in the Danubian metropolis since 1792 already, and they both continued their friendship with each other. Like Beethoven, Reicha associated with the Viennese high nobility and like Beethoven, he was considered an extraordinary virtuoso. He even was commissioned by Empress Marie Therese (1772-1807), to compose the Opera "Argene Regina di Granata". In 1808, Reicha left Vienna and moved to Paris, where he settled down. He was also very successful in Paris, and he was nominated Professor of Composition at the Paris Conservatory in 1818. (S.B.)