Josef Reicha

Full biography Josef Reicha

Josef Reicha was a Czech cellist, composer and conductor, born on February 12, 1752. He is well-known for his contributions to classical music during the late 18th century. Josef Reicha was also the uncle of the famous composer and music theorist, Anton Reicha.

As a child, Josef Reicha received musical training from his father. At the age of eight, he became the choirboy at the Monastery of St. Nicolas in Prague. Later on, he received further musical education in the Benedictine Abbey in Prague, where he was taught by famous musicians of that time.

Josef Reicha began his musical career as a cellist and gradually moved on to become a conductor and composer. He played in orchestras throughout his career and also conducted performances. One of his notable works is the opera "L’après-Coup de l'Amour et de la Folie", which was performed in 1785 at the Prague Estates Theatre.

Apart from that, Josef Reicha also composed a number of sonatas, symphonies, quartets, and concertos for various instruments. Unfortunately, many of his works have been lost over time. However, some of his compositions have survived and are still performed today.

Overall, Josef Reicha was a talented musician who contributed significantly to the classical music scene during the late 18th century. Despite his achievements, he is often overshadowed by his more famous nephew, Anton Reicha, who was also a renowned composer and music theorist.