Alexander Ernst Fesca (22 May 1820 in Karlsruhe, 22 February 1849 in Braunschweig) was a German composer and pianist.



Alexander Ernst Fesca was born in Karlsruhe the 22nd of May 1820 second of four sons of the composer Friedrich Ernst Fesca (1789–1826) and his wife Charlotte (born Dingelstedt, daughter of the horn player Johann Heinrich Dingelstedt).



Fesca received his first lessons from his father and made his debut at the of 11 years as a pianist in his hometown. At the age of 14 he graduated in composition at the Royal Academy of the Arts in Berlin. He had as teachers August William Bach (1796–1869), Wilhelm Taubert (1811–1891) and Carl Frederick Rungenhagen (1778–1851).



In 1838 he returned to Karlsruhe. In the same year he got his first success with the Operetta "Mariette". Fesca was known during his short life mostly through his songs and piano pieces in which his talent is coupled with a certain musical lightness. This is probably also the reason why some music scholars deny his works "deeper level" and "artistic seriousness."



In 1841 his opera "The French in Spain," staged with great success. Prince Egon von Furstenberg Fesca appointed in the same year Chamber Virtuoso. From 1842 he settled in Brunswick. In the local court theater on 25 July 1847 was premiered Fescas major work, his five-act heroic-romantic opera "Il Trovatore" with a libretto Frederick Schmetzer.



Alexander Ernst Fesca died the 22 of February, 1849, in Braunschweig, aged 28, of lung disease.



Source: Wikipedia