Theodor Kullak

Theodor Kullak (12 September 1818 – 1 March 1882) was a German pianist, composer and teacher. Background Kullak was born on 12 September 1818, in Krotoszyn. He began his piano studies as a pupil of Albrecht Agthe in Poznań. He progressed sufficiently to excite the interest of the artistic Prince Anton Radziwill in his eighth year. This early ability to attract noble patronage was an art he continued to deploy to advantage for many years to come. In 1829, the prince used his influence to secure a Berlin court concert. He appeared with soprano singer Henriette Sontag. The usually undemonstrative King Frederick William IV was so delighted that he presented young Kullak with thirty Friedrichs d’or. He performed a concert in Breslau that was received with gratifying applause. The kindly Prince Radziwill then saw to a rounded education for Kullak, sponsoring his school fees in Sulechów (now in Poland). Kullak eventually lost Radziwill’s patronage and from age thirteen to eighteen, had to make do with just occasional access to a piano. At age nineteen, at his father’s behest, he opted for a sensible profession and went to study medicine in Berlin. A new aristocratic friend, Count von Inge