At the age of 12, he entered the Austrian court, where he studied violin and composition, and became a member of the Vienna Court Theater Orchestra. While serving bishops in various regions, he performed violin and composed, leaving behind numerous works across all genres. Although his works are not frequently performed today, they vividly express the Classical style of his time. His most successful work was the Singspiel Doktor und Apotheker (The Doctor and the Apothecary) (1786). While foreign operas such as Italian opera and French opéra comique gained popularity, Singspiel, which emphasized German narration, drama, and ensemble elements, became popular in Vienna. It can be said that it was precisely this trend that led to Mozart's later Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute), and Dittersdorf can be regarded as a composer who truly lived through the Classical era, positioned chronologically between Haydn and Mozart.