Franz Wilhelm Tausch, born in Heidelberg in 1762 and died in Berlin in 1817, is considered one of the most important clarinet virtuosos of his time. His father, Jacob, recognized and fostered his musical talent early on. At the age of six, he was accepted into the Mannheim orchestra, where he played both violin and clarinet. At thirteen, he became a permanent member of the orchestra, along with his father. When Mozart visited Mannheim in 1777, he likely heard the Tausch family play, although they moved to Munich shortly thereafter.
In Munich, Tausch began his career as a soloist and undertook numerous tours. In 1789, he entered the service of the Prussian Queen Dowager as a chamber musician and settled in Berlin. Later, he played in the orchestra of King Frederick William II; after the king's death, Frederick William III offered him a position. Tausch remained in Berlin and founded the Conservatory for Wind Instruments there in 1805. His students included Bernhard Crusell and Heinrich Baermann, which underscores his outstanding reputation as a teacher.
An obituary in the Allgemeine Musikalische Zeitung of March 19, 1817, particularly emphasized his elegant playing and beautiful tone. In addition to his teaching, Tausch composed several clarinet concertos, quartets, and double concertos, which he occasionally performed with his son, Friedrich Wilhelm.
Franz Xaver Süßmayr, primarily known for completing Mozart's Requiem, also made a name for himself as a talented opera composer. He spent his youth in Kremsmünster before moving to Vienna in 1788, where he initially became a student of Mozart. Süßmayr began work on his own clarinet concerto, which is considered a unique work in music history.
Although Süßmayr's concerto remained unfinished, with only sketches surviving, the possibility of its later completion remains of historical interest. Both Tausch and Süßmayr are distinguished by exceptional musical talent and a strong artistic presence, as their works impressively demonstrate.