Short bio Antonin Kraft
Full biography Antonin Kraft
Antonin Kraft (also known as Anton Kraft) was a Czech cellist and composer born on December 30, 1749, in Rokycany. He became known for his talents in playing the cello and was regarded as one of the greatest cellists of his time. He was a close friend of famous composers such as Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven.
Kraft is known for his contribution to the cello repertoire, having written six cello sonatas and three duos for cello and double bass. He also commissioned works from other composers, including Haydn, who wrote a triple concerto that featured Kraft himself as the solo cellist.
Although some older sources have claimed that Kraft was a self-taught cellist, it is more likely that he received musical training from his father, who was the Kapellmeister at the Rokycany church. Later on, he moved to Vienna to further his studies and became a member of the court orchestra.
Kraft passed away on August 28, 1820, in Vienna. Even after his death, he continued to be remembered as one of the most significant cellists of his time, and his compositions for cello continue to be performed and appreciated by cellists and classical music enthusiasts around the world.
Compositions featuring Antonin Kraft
| # | Name | Duration | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sonata for cello & continuo in G major, Op. 2/2 | 16:32 min | Chamber Music | 178? |
| 2 | Sonata for cello & continuo No. 1 in C major, Op. 1/1 | 15:24 min | Chamber Music | 178? |
| 3 | Sonata for cello & continuo No. 2 in G major, Op. 1/2 | 18:50 min | Chamber Music | 178? |
| 4 | Sonata for cello & continuo No. 3 in D major, Op. 1/3 | 16:58 min | Chamber Music | 178? |
| 5 | Cello Concerto in C major ("Seydel's Concerto") | 24:45 min | Concerto | - |
| 6 | Concerto for cello & orchestra in C, Op 4 | 22:28 min | Concerto | - |
| 7 | Divertimento for cello & guitar | 7:03 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 8 | Duo for 2 cellos in D major, Op. 6 | 22:14 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 9 | Grand Duo for 2 cellos in G minor, Op. 5 | 20:29 min | Chamber Music | - |
Albums featuring Antonin Kraft
| # | Сover | Name album | Year | Music label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Prague Symphony Orchestra, Boccherini, Fischer, Kraft, Nedbal, Řezáč, Sinding, Smetáček – Symfonický Orchestr Hl.m. Prahy (FOK)(11×File, MP3, Compilation) | 2015 | Supraphon |
| 2 |  |
Antonín Kraft, Antonín Vranický, Carl Stamitz - Michal Kaňka, Prague Chamber Orchestra – Cello Concertos(CD, Album, Stereo) | 2012 | Supraphon |
| 3 |  |
Jens Peter Maintz, Dávid Adorján, Haydn, Kraft – Cellokonzerte 1&2 - Cellosonate | 2008 | Berlin Classics |
| 4 |  |
Pleyel • Benda • Boccherini • Antoniotti • Kraft • Haydn - Jörg Baumann • Klaus Stoll – Original Works & Classics For Cello & Double Bass(2×CD, Compilation) | 2005 | Apex |
| 5 |  |
Anton Kraft, Jan Mráček, Jiří Hošek – Trois Grands Duos Concertants(CD, Album) | 1995 | Clarton |
| 6 |  |
Joseph Haydn, Anton Kraft — Anner Bylsma, Tafelmusik Orchestra, Jean Lamon – Cello Concertos | 1990 | BMG Classics |
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