Johann Friedrich Reichardt was born on 25 November 1752 in Königsberg, East Prussia. He came from a musical family, as his father was a lutenist and Stadtmusiker. From a young age, Reichardt was trained in various instruments, including the violin and lute. At just ten years old, he toured East Prussia with his choir, the “Wunderknaben”. After being encouraged by the philosopher Immanuel Kant, he decided to study Jurisprudence and Philosophy. However, he pursued a career in music instead.

Reichardt’s talents earned him the role of Royal Prussian Court Kapellmeister, a prestigious position in the world of music. He married Juliane Benda, a talented singer and composer. His travels led him to Vienna, where he met famous composers like Mozart. Reichardt wrote about 1,500 Lieder, setting poetry to music, particularly influenced by Goethe. Despite facing political challenges, his work remained popular, and his music is still cherished today.