Giovanni Punto, or whatever his name really Johann (Jan) Wenceslas (Vaclav) Stich was on 28 Born in September 1746 Zehusice / Caslav 75 km southeast of Prague. He was one of "the" big horn virtuoso of the 18th Century and fits in with the many famous Czech musician who fled from their homes. His parents were serfs of Count Thun. This could form stitches on the horn. First he had lessons from Joseph Matiega in Prague (with vocal training), then teaching at Haudek & Hampel in Dresden.
1768 engraving fled from serfdom of Count Thun and called himself both as camouflage and for better musical "marketing" Giovanni Punto. There followed a brief tenure in 1768 in Hechingen, Hohenzollern services, from 1769 to 1774 he was in the service of the Elector of Mainz, then employed until 1780 in Würzburg. Punto played in Paris in 1781 in the chapel of the Comte d'Artois with lifelong pension guarantee. During the Revolution, 1795-97, he was director of the orchestra "music hall" in Paris. He left Paris in 1799. From 1769 Punto made ​​numerous concert tours throughout Europe and established his international reputation. Mozart heard Punto during his stay in Paris, and was thrilled. In 1800 gave concerts in Vienna and Budapest Punto along with Beethoven (Sonata op.17). 1801 Punto returned triumphant return to Prague. Giovanni Punto died 16.2.1803 in Prague on the "chest dropsy", a then very common disease winds.
The 15 trio of Giovanni Punto, came with horn trios by his teacher Anton Hampel in a Parisian copy surprised by the high position of the 1st Horns. There seem to be relatively early works Puntos, its pressure in surviving works almost exclusively use the center position. Maybe you were born of his teaching time in Dresden under the supervision of Hampel.
