Karl Ditters von Dittersdorf

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Karl Ditters von Dittersdorf Life

He was born as Karl Ditters, in Vienna, on November 2, 1739.
His father was an embroidery worker, and fortunately knew enough of music to train his son.

The boy played violin in the Orchestra of St. Stephen, and a horn player there noticed his abilities and recommended him to Prince Joseph von Hildburghausen.

At only eleven years old, Karl Ditters was employed as page and musician to the Prince, who raised him as his son and instructed him in music, sociology, and languages.

In 1761 the Prince was forced to disband the orchestra, but he gave each of the musicians a three-year contract to work at the Imperial Chapel.

This work was boring and paid little, and life there was difficult for Ditters.

At this time, however, he became friends with Gluck, who used his influence to relieve Ditters of some of the tedious chores.

Also, Gluck helped get Ditters some musical pupils.

Gluck asked Ditters to travel with him to Italia, and Count Durazzo paid for the journey due to an interest he had in Ditters.

In Italia Ditters had several concerts where he performed on the violin.
The position as violinist was soon terminated.

The Bishop had received severe criticism from the Empress Maria Theresia for the life he was rumoured to lead at Grosswardein.

The Bishop dismissed the entire chapel in 1769.
Ditters was brought to the castle of Count Schaffgotsch, at Johannisberg.

The Count and Ditters became fast friends, and Ditters received many honours due to this friendship.

The Count placed on Ditters the Order of the Golden Spur, and appointed him as Overseer of Forests, and Chief Magistrate, which brought with it a title of the rank in nobility.

Ditters was now a noble, and was renamed Karl von Dittersdorf.
He visited Vienna in 1773 to conduct a performance of his oratorio Esther.

Emperor Joseph II offered him post as chapel-master, but Dittersdorf decided to remain with Johannisberg.

Dittersdorf became extremely famous quickly, and Esther was soon followed by Job, which was even more popular.

He also composed a famous opera, The Doctor and the apothecary, and he was commisioned for three more operas.
These three received increasing popularity, and Dittersdorf had now become the favourite composer of the time.

His music was the most in-style in Europe, and his symphonies, overtures, masses, oratorios, operas, cantatas, and concerti were performed very frequently.

In 1789 Dittersdorf went to Berlin as a personal guest of Frederick William II, to personally conduct a performance of The Doctor and the apothecary.

Karl von Dittersdorf had a massive reputation, and then it suddenly fell.
The count died, and Dittersdorf was relieved of his position and given a small pension.
For a long time he was nearly broke.

Count Still took Dittersdorf and his family to Bohemia, where he remained until his death.

During his final years, Dittersdorf knew that his day was over.
His music was played less and less, until it was nearly impossible to hear it anywhere.

The publishers refused to publish any more of his music, saying there was no more interest in it.

This loss of fame and love broke Dittersdorf's heart, and the depression led to his death in Bohemia on October 24, 1799.

Three days before he died, he finished the writing of his autobiography.