orig. Carl Ditters
born Nov. 2, 1739, Vienna, Austria
died Oct. 24, 1799, Rothlhotta Castle, Neuhof, Bohemia
Austrian composer.
A violin prodigy, he served as kapellmeister at the court of the prince-bishop of Breslau (1770–95). Though ennobled by the empress in 1773, he apparently declined the offer of the post of kapellmeister at the imperial court in Vienna. Extremely prolific, he wrote some 120 symphonies, some 40 concertos (many for violin), sacred choral works, and many chamber pieces. Most important are some 40 stage works, particularly his singspiels, including Doctor und Apotheker (1786) and Die Liebe im Narrenhause (1787).