Jean Louis Duport (1749-1819) - Fotografie eines Stiches von Éléonore Lingée nach einer Zeichnung von Nicolas Cochin

Together with his older brother Jean-Pierre (1741-1818), Jean-Louis Duport was one of the most important cello virtuosos of his time. Jean-Louis played as solo violoncellist at the Opera and the Emperor's band in Paris. Later he taught at the Parisian Conservatory. He composed concerts, sonatas and other works for his instrument and developed a cello course with instructions for a new fingering technique. Since 1773 Jean-Pierre Duport was first cellist at the Court Band in Berlin where he directed concerts. Both brothers worked in Berlin when Ludwig van Beethoven visited the city in 1796. Obviously, Beethoven's sonatas for piano and violoncello op. 5 written during this stay were composed for one of the Duport brothers.(S.B.)