Kraft, Nikolaus

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Kraft, Nikolaus

Kraft, Nikolaus, renowned Hungarian cellist, son of Anton Kraft; b. Esterhaz, Dec. 14, 1778; d. Eger, May 18, 1853. He studied with his father, and toured with him while quite young. During a visit to the Dresden court, they performed with Mozart (April 14, 1789). He joined the orch. of Prince Joseph Lobkowitz in Vienna (1796), and also was a member of the Schuppanzigh Quartet. After further study with Jean-Pierre Duport in Berlin (1801–02), he toured widely. He returned to Vienna as principal cellist of the orch. of the Kärnthnertortheater (1809), and also continued to serve Prince Lobkowitz as a chamber virtuoso. He subsequently was a chamber musician in Stuttgart from 1814 until an accident to his hand compelled him to retire in 1834. He wrote 4 cello concertos (1810?, 1813, 1819, 1820) and various salon pieces for the instrument. His son, Friedrich Anton Kraft (b. Vienna, Feb. 13, 1807; d. Stuttgart, Dec. 4, 1874), was a cellist in the Stuttgart Court Orch. from 1824.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire