Wölfl, Joseph

Joseph Wölfl (1773–1812) was a pianist of dazzling skill and a prolific composer whose music once rang out across Europe. Trained by both Leopold and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, he became known for his prodigious hand span, refined touch, and flair for improvisation. For a brief but remarkable period, he was considered Beethoven’s chief rival in Vienna—praised for his elegance, speed, and wit at the keyboard.

Wölfl’s piano music blends Classical clarity with virtuosic sparkle. His works are marked by lively rhythms, brilliant passagework, and a finely balanced sense of form—qualities especially evident in his sonatas and variations. Stylistically, he stands between Mozart and Hummel: elegant and urbane, but never without technical ambition.

Felix Editions publishes new Urtext editions of Wölfl’s piano music, bringing renewed attention to a composer whose best works still shine with brilliance and charm.