Anton Bernhard Fürstenau (1792-1852) belonged to the middle of three generations of flautists and performed in public as a boy of seven. In the years 1803-1818, he accompanied his father and teacher Kaspar Fürstenau on his many concert tours through Germany and Europe. Later he also gave concerts alone or with his son Moritz and enjoyed a high reputation, which, according to contemporary judgement, made him ‘if not the most excellent, then undisputedly one of the most excellent ... flutists’. In 1820 Fürstenau moved to Dresden and found a position with the court orchestra conducted by Carl Maria von Weber. A lasting friendship developed between the two artists and when Weber died in London in 1826, Fürstenau was at his deathbed.
The musical œuvre of the flute virtuoso can be divided into 3 groups:
- works mainly for his own use
- didactic works (technical studies, 2 notable flute schools)
- chamber music (duets, quartets, quintets, operas with trios for 3 flutes)
A thorough study of his compositions and his ideas on music and their realisation on the flute should be worthwhile for every flutist, even today.
