Concert at St. Pankratius (Schwetzingen) in cooperation with the Hof I Music I City Research Center

Franz Danzi is considered one of Schwetzingen’s most famous “sons.” He was baptized on June 15, 1763, at St. Pankratius, as recorded in the church register. His father, Ludovico—a cello virtuoso from northern Italy who played in the electoral court orchestra—was highly regarded by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart as an outstanding accompanist. It is possible that the six-year-old Mozart, during his stay in Schwetzingen in 1763, heard the cries of the infant Franz, who was only a few weeks old at the time. Mozart would later become one of Franz’s greatest admirers and incorporate numerous themes from his idol into his own compositions. Franz received his training from his father and later served as principal cellist in Munich and as court Kapellmeister in Stuttgart and Karlsruhe. His wind quintets are still performed today. Danzi died in Karlsruhe in 1826—this year marks the 200th anniversary of his death.