Of unknown but most likely German-Polish parentage, Franciszek Lessel (1780-1837) was an excellent if now little-known Polish composer from the pre-Chopin era. He is known to have been a student of Haydn’s from 1798, even himself tutoring Haydn’s son Pietro. His compositions were published in Vienna to favorable reviews, and he played in private concerts. He returned to Poland in or after 1810, settling in Warsaw. The Polish pianist Dorota Cybulska-Amsler plays a selection of five of his piano works, including two sonatas and the bold, dramatic Fantasia, op. 13, published 1800-14.
