Henri Herz

Henri Herz (1803–1888) – one of the most popular piano virtuosos and ‘brilliant’-style composers of the first half of the nineteenth century. Born in Austria, he studied at the Paris Conservatory, where he later taught (1842–1847). In 1837, together with Ferenc Liszt, Sigismund Thalberg, Johann Peter Pixis, Carl Czerny and Fryderyk Chopin, he composed the Hexameron variations on the march theme from Vincenzo Bellini’s opera I puritani. Herz also made pianos that were regarded as highly as those by Erard and Pleyel.