(b Pâquis, 8 Jan 1812; d Posillipo, 27 April 1871). German orAustrian pianist and composer. He studied the piano with Hummel in Vienna (and theory with Sechter) and later with Moscheles in London. He began an international career in 1830; in the 1850s he went as far as Brazil and the USA. With Liszt (his rival for a time), he was the greatest virtuoso pianist of the period, admired for both his brilliant technique and expressive, singing style. He mostly played his own music, which includes many fantasias and variations on opera arias, studies and nocturnes. He also wrote a few other instrumental works, two operas, songs and a piano method.

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