Joseph Drechsler (26 May 1782 – 27 February 1852) was an Austrian organist, teacher, composer and conductor; in Vienna he was organist and choirmaster at several churches, and theatre conductor and composer of incidental music.
Life
Drechsler was born in Wällisch Birken, (Vlachovo Březí, now in the Czech Republic), son of a teacher. He was a choirboy in Passau and in Vornbach Abbey, where he studied basso continuo with the organist Dionys Grotz. He studied law and theology in Prague. He moved to Vienna in 1807, being invited by Karl Friedrich Hensler to direct the orchestra of the Theater in der Leopoldstadt; he turned down this offer and remained in Vienna as a music teacher. In 1810 he was répétiteur and from 1812 assistant director at the Royal Court Theatre.[1][2][3]