Robert Fuchs (February 15, 1847 – February 19, 1927) was an Austrian composer and music educator. He maintained a close friendship with Johannes Brahms, who recognized and encouraged his talent. Fuchs even dedicated his first piano trio to Brahms. He became particularly well-known for his first serenade (1874), which earned him the nickname "Serenade Fuchs." His diverse oeuvre, however, encompasses much more: two operas, three symphonies, five orchestral serenades, a piano concerto, and numerous chamber music works.
Born in Frauental an der Laßnitz in Styria, Fuchs moved to Vienna in 1865 to study composition—among others, with Anton Bruckner. He completed his studies with a symphony in 1867 and initially worked as an organist. His major breakthrough came with his first serenade in D major, which brought him fame in 1874. In the same year, he began teaching at the Vienna Conservatory, where he taught harmony. In 1888, he received the Beethoven Composer Prize from the Society of Friends of Music in Vienna and was appointed professor.
His two symphonies (1886 and 1887) solidified his popularity, while his operas "Die Königsbraut" (1889) and "Die Teufelsglocke" (1893) were less successful. Privately, Fuchs suffered a devastating blow when his wife Amalia, whom he had married in 1869 and with whom he had two sons and a daughter, died in 1898. This triggered a severe depression. In the following years, he spent his summers in Hirtenberg, his late wife's hometown.
Until the age of 65 (1912), Fuchs taught at the Conservatory but remained active as a composer. He died on February 19, 1927, in Vienna and was buried in the Central Cemetery. Despite his extensive output and his importance as a teacher, Fuchs' music was increasingly forgotten after his death – a fate he shares with other composers of his time.