Carl Reinecke (1824-1910)

Born in Altona (today a suburb of Hamburg), then under Danish rule, Carl Reinecke learned music from his father and showed talent from an early age. He made his debut as a violinist aged 11 and began his career as an orchestral violinist. He then became a distinguished pianist, studying in Leipzig where he became friends with Schumann and Mendelssohn, then touring Europe as a soloist, becoming court pianist in Copenhagen (184648). Afterwards he held a variety of teaching posts and was eventually appointed conductor of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra (1860-95).