Witasek, Johann Nepomuk August

1771-1839

Pianist; born at Horzin, Bohemia. He studied under Kozeluch, whom he succeeded in 1814 as cathedral chapelmaster at Prague and in 1826 he became director of the Organ School. Though offered the position of Court chapelmaster in Vienna to succeed Salieri, he refused and remained in Prague. Witasek's rendering of Mozart s concertos was so fine as to bring praise from the composer of them. He has also composed some piano works which were popular at the time. He died in Prague.