Karl Stamitz (May 7, 1745 - November 9, 1801) was a Bohemian composer, violin, viola and viola d'amore virtuoso. He was the most prominent of the second generation of the so-called Mannheim school. Stamitz was born in Mannheim and was first taught music by Johann Stamitz, his father and founder of the Mannheim school. He played in the orchestra at Mannheim from 1762 and in 1770 moved to Paris where he became known as a violinist. He later lived in a number of places, including Prague and London. Read more on Last.fm