Fesca, Alexander (Ernst)

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Fesca, Alexander (Ernst)

Fesca, Alexander (Ernst), German pianist and composer, son of Friedrich (Ernst) Fesca; b. Karlsruhe, May 22, 1820; d. Braunschweig, Feb. 22, 1849. He began training with his father in Karlsruhe, where he made his debut as a pianist at age 11. When he was 14, he went to Berlin to study with Taubert (piano), Rungenhagen and A.W. Bach (composition and harmony), and Schneider (instrumentation) at the Royal Academy of Arts. From 1839 he made highly successful tours as a pianist. He served as chamber musician to Prince Fiirstenberg (1841–42) before settling in Braunschweig.

Works

DRAMATIC Opera : Mariette (Karlsruhe, 1838); Die Franzosen in Spanien (Karlsruhe, 1841); Der Troubadour (Braunschweig, July 25, 1847); Ulrich von Hutten (Karlsruhe, 1849). OTHER: Chamber music; piano pieces; songs.

Bibliography

M. Frei-Hauenscild, F.E. F. (1789–1826): Studien zu Biographic und Streichquartettschaffen (Göttingen, 1998).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire