Education
He studied with Karl Veit in his youth.
He studied with Karl Veit in his youth.
Labitzky joined a traveling orchestra at age 14, and in 1820 took a position in an orchestra in Marienbad. In 1823-1824 he was in Munich, and following this he toured Germany as a concert violinist. He put together his own orchestra in 1825, touring Vienna and Warsaw.
He took a conducting position in Karlsbad in 1835, and his dance pieces became quite popular throughout Europe, including England.
He was involved in "Cocks vs Purday", a British court case concerning copyright. He was the father of August Labitzky.
Labitzky composed 300 dance pieces. He was overshadowed by Johann Strauss later in his life.