Joseph Wölfl (1772-1812) - Stich von Me... nach einer vermutlich von William Henry Pyne stammenden Zeichnung

Austrian pianist and composer Joseph Wölffl (aka Wölfl and Wölfe) came from Salzburg. Among his teachers were Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791). Due to his obviously rather big hands, he soon managed to acquire a brilliant technique when playing the piano.

In 1790 Wölffl relocated to Vienna and went on extensive concert journeys throughout Germany. In 1801 he moved to Paris, from 1805 on he lived in London where he worked as a pianist and gave lessons. Wölffl wrote seven piano concerts, two symphonies, various pieces of chamber music as well as piano pieces and songs. When performing in Vienna in 1799 he proved a serious piano competitor for Beethoven. On a well-known competition between him and the composer, both men played at music friend Raimund von Wetzlar"s place and were met with the same great acclaim. (S.B.)