Alexander Ernst Fesca was born in Karlsruhe, Germany, the second of four sons of composer Friedrich Ernst Fesca and his wife Charlotte. He began his musical education with his father and made his debut as a pianist at the age of 11. By 14, he graduated in composition from the Prussian Academy of Arts in Berlin, studying under notable teachers.

In 1838, he returned to Karlsruhe and achieved success with the operetta “Mariette.” Fesca was known for his songs and piano pieces, which displayed a lightness that some scholars viewed as lacking depth.

In 1841, his opera “The French in Spain” premiered successfully. That same year, he was appointed Chamber Virtuoso by Prince Egon von Furstenberg. He later settled in Brunswick, where his major work, the five-act opera “Il Trovatore,” premiered in 1847. Sadly, Fesca died of lung disease on 22 February 1849, at the young age of 28.