Conradin Kreutzer (1780-1849) - Reproduktion einer Lithographie von Josef Lanzedelly der Ältere

Composer and conductor Konradin Kreutzer from Meßkirch lived in Vienna between 1804 and 1812 where he studied with Johann Georg Albrechtsberger. From there, Kreutzer relocated to Stuttgart, became court bandmaster and made the acquaintance of Swabian Romantic poets around Ludwig Uhland. In 1817 Kreutzer became bandmaster of the Prince zu Fürstenberg in Donaueschingen and returned to Vienna in 1822. Until 1839 he worked at various theatres in Vienna and performed a number of his operas. Particularly successful was the first performance of his play "Das Nachtlager zu Granada" (The Night Camp in Granada) in 1834 and the music for Ferdinand Raimund's play "Der Verschwender" in the same year.

Kreutzer probably met Ludwig van Beethoven during his first stay in Vienna and definitely after 1822. On May 7th, 1824 he partook in the first performance of the Ninth Symphony. Beethoven's violin sonata, op. 47, also known as "Kreutzer-Sonate" is not dedicated to Konradin Kreutzer but to his namesake Rodolphe Kreutzer.(S.B.)