Antonín Kraft

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Antonín Kraft (December 30, 1749? – 28 August?, 1820) was an Czech cellist and composer. He was a close friend of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven.

Kraft was possibly born in the Bohemian town Rokycany. He received early musical education on the cello from his father before going to university in Vienna to study law. He soon obtained a position in the Imperial Hofkapelle. In 1778 he was appointed cellist in Prince Nikolaus Esterházy's orchestra, where he met and studied composition with Haydn. After Esterházy died in 1790, he went to Vienna and became a founding member of the Schuppanzigh quartet, where he helped establish the traditions of string quartet playing. He played in the Grassalkowicz court and from 1796 was employed in Prince Lobkowicz's orchestra. He died sometime in August, 1820 in Vienna.

Kraft was considered one of the greatest cellists of his time and both Haydn's Cello Concerto No. 2 in D and the cello part in Beethoven's Triple Concerto were written for him.

As a composer, he wrote cello sonatas (six for cello with bass published as Op. 1 and 2) and a cello concerto (Op. 4). He also wrote various duos: for violin and cello (Op. 3), for cello and double bass and for two cellos (Op. 5 and 6).