Not many composers have been sacked because their employer was exasperated by their pranks. Not that Carl Maria von Weber was a latter-day Till Eulenspiegel, but there do seem to be elements in his life and music that point to a mischievous trait. The sacking was probably the low point in a life perhaps more varied than any other great artist.

Lived 1786-1826
Mostly in Berlin, Dresden, Prague, Salzburg
Best known for Clarinet concerti, Der Freischütz, Oberon, Invitation to the Dance
Similar to Mendelssohn, Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann

It was also a sadly shortened life. But in his time on this earth, Weber covered the various roles of child prodigy, opera director, manager of a Princely estate, entrepreneur, novelist, critic, and...