Jean-Pierre Duport facts for kids

Jean-Pierre Duport

Jean-Pierre Duport (born 27 November 1741 – died 31 December 1818) was a famous cellist. He lived during the late 1700s and early 1800s. Jean-Pierre and his younger brother, Jean-Louis Duport, were both very talented cellists. They were important musicians in France and Germany. Jean-Pierre's father was a dancing teacher. Jean-Pierre learned to play the cello from Martin Berteau, who helped create a special way of playing the cello in France.

A Musician's Journey

After studying with Berteau, Jean-Pierre Duport played his first big concert. He was only 19 years old. This concert was at the Concert Spirituel in Paris. This place was a major center for music that was not opera.

Between 1766 and 1769, Duport worked for a noble person called the Prince of Conti. After that, he traveled to other countries. He spent two years in England and then two years in Spain.

In 1773, Frederick the Great, who was the King of Prussia, offered Duport a job. He wanted Duport to be the main cellist in his orchestra. Duport accepted and moved from Paris to Berlin.

During the 1770s, Duport became a cello teacher. He taught the Prince of Prussia, who later became King Friedrich Wilhelm II. In 1786, Duport was given an even bigger role. He was named Surintendant de la musique. This meant he was in charge of all the chamber music at the king's court.

In 1790, Duport's younger brother, Jean-Louis Duport, joined him in Berlin. He had left France because of the French Revolution. With both brothers there, and King Friedrich Wilhelm II also playing the cello, Berlin became a very important place for new cello music.

Later, in 1806, Napoleon's army defeated King Friedrich Wilhelm III's army. They captured Berlin. The Prussian court orchestra was then closed down. Duport stayed in Berlin until he passed away in 1818.

Duport and Beethoven

Jean-Pierre Duport and his brother knew the famous composer Beethoven. In 1796, Beethoven went on a concert tour. He visited many cities like Prague, Dresden, and Berlin. In Berlin, he was very impressed by the high quality of music at King Friedrich Wilhelm II's court.

Beethoven performed at the Marble Palace in Potsdam. He played one of his new pieces for the first time with one of the Duport brothers. This shows how important the Duport brothers were in the music world of their time.

See also

In Spanish: Jean-Pierre Duport para niños