Joseph Sonnleithner

Joseph Sonnleithner
Joseph Sonnleithner, librettist of Beethoven's "Fidelio"
Born
Joseph Ferdinand Sonnleithner

(1766-03-03)3 March 1766
Died26 December 1835(1835-12-26) (aged 69)
OccupationsCourt Agent, Librettist, Archivist
Known forJoseph Haydn and Ludwig van Beethoven's friend

Joseph Ferdinand Sonnleithner (3 March 1766 – 26 December 1835) was an Austrian court agent, councillor, librettist, theater director, and archivist. He was the son of Christoph Sonnleithner, brother of Ignaz von Sonnleithner and uncle of Franz Grillparzer and Leopold von Sonnleithner. He was a personal friend of Ludwig van Beethoven, and he wrote numerous librettos, among them, Beethoven's stage opera Fidelio, Faniska by Luigi Cherubini and Agnes Sorel by Adalbert Gyrowetz.