Pixis, Johann Peter

1788-1874

German pianist, composer and teacher, and was born at Mannheim. His father was an organist, under whose tutelage Johann became an excellent pianist, and made tours with his father and brother. In 1809 he went to Munich, but in 1825 settled in Paris, and adopted Francilla Gohringer, whom he educated as an opera contralto, and toured Germany and Italy with her. He later settled at Baden-Baden and spent the rest of his life in giving private lessons at his villa there. He composed over a hundred and fifty pieces, including a symphony; concertos; sonatas, trios, quartets and quintets, fantasias, rondos; caprices; variations and other piano-music, as well as the operas, Bibiana, and Die Sprache des Herzens.