Album insights
Heinrich (Henri) Herz was born on January 6, 1803, in Vienna. A child prodigy, he received his first lessons from his father and performed his debut concerts at the age of eight, including a performance in Koblenz playing Hummel's Variations on an "Oberland Melody," op. 8. After studying with Daniel Hünten, the organist and father of the more famous Franz Hünten, Herz gained admission to the Paris Conservatoire. His initial compositions, Air Tirolien varié op. 1 and Rondo alla Cosacca op. 2, were released two years later.
In the 1820s and 1830s, Herz emerged as one of the most brilliant pianists and sought-after teachers of his time. His music was pervasive and outperformed that of his contemporaries (even including Liszt and Chopin). This success enabled him to construct a concert hall with 500 seats, the Salle Henri Herz on Rue de la Victoire, which no longer exists. Additionally, he became a business partner of a piano maker named Klepfa, who produced around 400 instruments yearly. However, this venture turned out to be a costly failure. Subsequently, Herz ventured to America, becoming the first significant European pianist to tour the country. His experiences are detailed in his entertaining memoirs, published in 1866 as "Mes voyages en Amérique." Although Herz remained in America until 1851, returning as a wealthy man, his heyday faded in the early 1850s due to changing musical tastes.
By the early 1850s, Herz's focus shifted to his successful piano business and his teaching at the Paris Conservatoire as musical preferences evolved. While he continued composing, Herz's career as a renowned pianist was essentially over. Despite this, he concentrated on his now prosperous piano business and teaching pursuits at the Paris Conservatoire. Among his pupils were notable figures such as Adolphe Fétis, Berthe Goldschmidt, and Henri Rosellen. Herz's legacy lives on through his forgotten musical compositions, offering a glimpse into a bygone era and the musical landscape of yesteryears.
Interest in Herz's music and that of his contemporaries has increased over time. Prior to Howard Shelley's recordings of six of Herz's piano concertos in 2003 and 2004, there were only a handful of Herz's compositions recorded. Recorded pieces such as "Deuxième thème original avec introduction et variations op. 81," "Fantaisie et Variations sur des Airs nationaux américains variés op. 158," among others, showcase Herz's talents and contributions to the musical landscape of his era.
Jeremy Nicholas © 2008