Ignaz Moscheles (1794-1870) - Stich von Leopold Beyer nach einem Gemälde von Friedrich Lieder, erschienen bei Artaria, Wien, um 1820

In 1808 Ignaz Moscheles, a pianist, composer and conductor from Prague, moved to Vienna where he made the acquaintance of Ludwig van Beethoven. Between 1808 and 1820 Moscheles was part of Beethoven"s circle of friends. In 1814 he wrote a piano version of Beethoven"s opera "Fidelio". Later, Moscheles adapted other Beethoven compositions for piano.

When Moscheles moved to London in the early 1820s, he remained in contact with Beethoven. In 1832 he conducted the first public English performance of Beethoven"s "Missa solemnis" op. 123 in London. Nine years later, he published an English translation of Anton Schindler"s Beethoven biography that he enriched with his own comments.

In 1864, after a series of long concert journeys, Moscheles accepted the position of director of the piano class at the Leipzig conservatory, suggested by his former student Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy. Until 1870 he worked at the conservatory. Moscheles" own compositions are mostly written for his favourite instrument - the piano. They are of a virtuoso style and feature romantic elements. (S.B.)