Herz, Henri

1806-1888

Popular pianist; born in Vienna. His father was his first instructor. He studied under Prahder at the Paris Conservatory and won the prize for piano-playing in his first year. He toured Germany with Lafont in 1831 and visited London for the first time in 1833, playing at the Philharmonic and at a concert of his own with Moscheles and Cramer. In 1842 he was made professor of piano at the Paris Conservatory. Returned the following year to London to again appear at the Philharmonic, and then in Edinburgh and Dublin. He attempted to combine art and business and his first venture, the manufacture of pianos, was a failure. He then went to America, touring the United States, Mexico and the West Indies. For six years he gave popular concerts, which were well received. Financially reimbursed, he returned to Paris and with his larger capital again entered the business field. At the Paris Exposition, in 1855, his piano carried off the highest award and still ranks with those of Pleyel and firard.

An account of his American tour, written by Herz in Paris in 1866, won for him a local reputation as a writer as well as a musician. Until 1874 he held the chair at the Conservatory and was distinguished as a teacher. Herz was a prolific composer, producing over two hundred pieces, including concertos for piano and for piano and orchestra; a great number of variations; and several etudes and piano methods. Although eminently successful as a piano virtuoso, because of his brilliancy and power of expression and his willingness to popularize his music to please the public at large, Herz was never distinguished among the great artists. He died in Paris in 1888.