Johann Friedrich Reichardt

Johann Friedrich Reichardt was a German composer, music critic, and writer active during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Born in 1752, he was a significant figure of the Classical era who composed a wide array of songs (Lieder), operas, and instrumental works. Reichardt had a deep interest in setting poetry to music and worked with texts by some of the most renowned German writers of his time, including Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich Schiller. His songs, often emotionally nuanced and closely tied to the ideals of Romanticism, were an important link between the music of the Classical era and the Lieder tradition that would be further developed by composers like Schubert.

Reichardt also held important posts as a court composer, notably for King Frederick the Great of Prussia. In addition to his composition work, he was known for his music criticism and travel writings, which offered valuable insights into the musical life of his era. Beyond his creative output, Reichardt was politically engaged and sympathetic to the ideals of the French Revolution, which impacted both his career and his relationships in the courtly world. Today, he’s recognized for his contributions to early German song and for helping to elevate the status of Lieder as a serious art form.

Genres

Classical

Chamber Music

Opera

Romantic Music

Art Song

Lieder

Piano Music

Related Artists

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Ludwig van Beethoven

Franz Schubert

Johann Nepomuk Hummel

Felix Mendelssohn

Joseph Haydn

Christoph Willibald Gluck

Carl Maria von Weber

Johann Christian Bach

Antonio Salieri

Johann Abraham Peter Schulz

Mozart

Latest Release

Bruno Hoffmann: The Art of the Glass Harp (Recordings on Archiv Produktion)

Bruno Hoffmann•

Johann Friedrich Reichardt

Album - 19 Tracks - Released April 4, 2025