It is somewhat surprising, though, that Kalkbrenner attained this much coveted position in revolutionary France after spending most of his life at courts that were distinctly hostile to the French Revolution. Kalkbrenner died unexpectedly in 1806 in Paris. His death seems to have come as a great blow to his son who subsequently withdrew from the concert life and music in general for several years. Historical assessment Christian Kalkbrenner was a very talented all-round musician and a good composer, well versed in all music matters. He must also have been a shrewd courtier who knew how to advance in the tight knit aristocratic society of the latter 18th century, where observing the etiquette and being on good terms with the right and influential people, most of them aristocrats, was what mattered most. Coming from a humble background (as the family name clearly suggests ) and with Jewish roots, he rose within a relatively short time to one of the preeminent positions in 18th century musical Germany. Having spent his whole life at smaller European courts that were decidedly hostile towards the French Revolution, he nevertheless managed within a few years to attain a respected position in post-revolutionary France. He was the father and first teacher of Friedrich Wilhelm Kalkbrenner, one of the most famous and influential pianists and piano teachers in the first half of the 19th century. Works Today there is little information on Kalkbrenner’s works. Marmontel maintains that it was large. Operas Démocrite, opera buffa, 3 acts, Rheinsberg 1792 La Femme et le secret, opera, Rheinsberg Lanassa, grand opéra, Rheinsberg La Veuve du Malabar, opera, Rheinsberg La Descente des Français en Angleterre, opera in one act, (Italy?) 1798 Olympie (Guillard), grand opéra in 3 acts, Paris 1798 Scène de Pygmalion, scène avec orchestre, Paris 1799 Scène tirée des poésies d'Ossian, Paris 1800 Other works 2 symphonies piano concerto piano sonatas oratorios, masses. Theorie der Tonkunst (1789) Kurzer Abriss der Geschichte der Tonkunst (1792). Notes and references Sources Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart. Allgemeine Enzyklopädie der Musik. (Ungekürzte elektronische Ausgabe der ersten Auflage). (1949–1987). München: Bärenreiter. Fraser, David. Frederick the Great. London: Penguin, 2000. Marmontel, Antoine Francois. Les Pianistes Célèbres. Paris: Imprimerie Centrale des Chemins de Fer A. Chaix et Cie, 1878. Nicholas, Jeremy. Booklet of Hyperion CD recording of Kalkbrenner Piano Concertos No. 1, Op. 61 and No. 2, Op. 127. Published by Hyperion Records Ltd., Booklet