Otto Neitzel

Otto Neitzel (6 July 1852 – 10 March 1920) was a German composer, pianist, writer on music, and lecturer. Neitzel was born in the town of Falkenburg in Farther Pomerania (modern Złocieniec, Poland). His father, Gottfried Neitzel was a teacher and his mother, Louise (née Messerschmidt), was a housewife. Biography At the age of 8, Neitzel toured his neighbourhood and cities, giving performances. This “Wonderkid” was praised for his ability to play the piano and move people’s ears. Famous people promoted him for his abilities, mainly:- * Carl Loewe in Stettin * Eduard Grell in Berlin * Violinist Hubert Ries * Wilhelm Taubert (composer) His parents could not afford to pay for music lessons, but Bernhard Lösener, astonished by his music talent, sponsored him to finish his musical education. In 1865, he left home and joined the Joachimsthaler Gymnasium in Berlin. While there, he continued to study music at the Neue Akademia der Tonkust by Theodore Kullak. From 1873 to 1875, he was a student of Franz Liszt. In 1875, he wrote his dissertation “Die ästhetische Grenze der Programmmusik” (The Aesthetic Limit of Programme Music). Later, he went on a tour with Pauline Lucca (a soprano singer) a