Andreas Jakob Romberg

1767-1821

Born in the small town of Vechta, Romberg is yet another composer from the Duchy of Saxony, a place that seems to have served as the engine room for German music in the 18th and 9th centuries.

The son of a virtuoso musician Gerhard Heinrich Romberg, Andreas was a child prodigy giving his first concert performance on the violin aged 6.

His cousin Bernhard Romberg was a virtuoso cellist and the two youngsters travelled and performed around Europe to great acclaim.

Andreas moved to Bonn in 1790 to join the orchestra of the local Prince Elector. Here he met Beethoven although what they thought of each other is not recorded.

In 1793 he moved to the opera orchestra in the same city and composed his first opera which was given its premiere the following year.

Moving around Europe with the Napoleonic Wars raging all around you was not easy. Romberg had a spell in Paris before settling in Hamburg. Here he became the leading musical figure of his day, celebrated for his performances and compositions.

With the wars coming to an end in 1815 Andreas moved for the last time, to Gotha where he was given the post of musical director to the Duke’s orchestra. He held the post until his death in 1821.