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Ludwig Rellstab was a German composer, pianist, and music critic who lived from 1799 to 1860. He was born in Berlin, Germany, and showed an early interest in music. His father was a musician, and Rellstab began studying piano at a young age. He also showed an interest in literature and poetry, which would later influence his work as a music critic. Rellstab's musical career began in earnest when he moved to Vienna in 1819. There, he studied with the renowned pianist and composer Johann Nepomuk Hummel. Rellstab quickly established himself as a talented pianist, and he began performing in public concerts. He also began composing his own music, although he is best known today for his work as a music critic. In 1824, Rellstab moved back to Berlin, where he began writing music criticism for various newspapers and magazines. He quickly gained a reputation as a sharp and insightful critic, and his reviews were widely read and respected. Rellstab was known for his ability to write about music in a way that was accessible to the general public, and he was particularly skilled at describing the emotional impact of music. One of Rellstab's most famous reviews was his critique of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. Rellstab was one of the first critics to recognize the significance of the symphony, and his review helped to establish it as one of the greatest works of classical music. Rellstab also wrote extensively about the music of Schubert, whom he knew personally. He was one of the first critics to recognize the genius of Schubert's music, and his reviews helped to establish Schubert as one of the greatest composers of the Romantic era. In addition to his work as a music critic, Rellstab continued to compose his own music. He wrote a number of piano pieces, as well as songs and chamber music. However, his compositions were not as well-known as his criticism, and they are rarely performed today. Rellstab's career as a music critic continued to flourish throughout the 1830s and 1840s. He wrote for a number of different publications, including the Berliner Allgemeine Musikalische Zeitung and the Neue Zeitschrift für Musik. He also became involved in the political and social issues of his time, and he used his writing to advocate for social justice and political reform. Despite his success as a critic, Rellstab's personal life was marked by tragedy. He suffered from a number of health problems throughout his life, including tuberculosis and depression. He also experienced financial difficulties, and he was forced to sell his piano and other possessions in order to make ends meet. Rellstab died in 1860 at the age of 61. Although he is best known today for his work as a music critic, his contributions to the world of classical music were significant. His reviews helped to establish the reputations of some of the greatest composers of the Romantic era, and his writing continues to be studied and admired by music scholars today.

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