KREUTZER

kreutzer, rudolph (1766-1831), french violinist, of german extraction, was born at versailles, his father being a musician in the royal chapel. rudolph gradually became famous as a violinist, playing with great success at various continental capitals. it was to him that in 1803 beethoven dedicated his famous violin sonata (_op._ 47) known as the "kreutzer." apart, however, from his fame as a violinist, kreutzer was also a prolific composer; he wrote twenty-nine operas, many of which were successfully produced, besides nineteen violin concertos and chamber music. he died at geneva in 1831.