Fantasie, Op. 3 on a theme from Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor

Jann (Johann) Sobeck was born on April 30th, 1831 in Krippau (now in the Czech Republic) and died on June 9th, 1914 in Hanover, Germany. He studied at the Prague Conservatory from 1843 to 1849 under Julius Pisarovic. After graduation, Sobeck played in the theatre orchestra in Baden-Baden for two years. He then played in an orchestra in London briefly in 1851, after which he was offered and accepted the position of first clarinet in the court orchestra in Hanover. He performed all over Germany as a soloist and was known as an excellent teacher. Sobeck retired from the court in 1901 after 50 years of service.