Antoine Reicha was born in Prague. Reicha moved Bonn to be employed as violinist and flutist in the court orchestra. In 1799, Reicha’s opera debut in Paris failed. Reicha moved to Vienna where he became friends with Beethoven and Haydn. His success in Vienna as a composer and teacher was so formidable, that he was invited to join the Paris Conservatoire as a professor. Reicha’s student included Berlioz, Liszt and Franck.