Imagine a virtuoso pianist captivating audiences across Europe. That was Henry Litolff. Right here on Rue Henry Litolff, we honor his legacy.
Henry Charles Litolff was born in London in 1818. His father was a violinist in Napoleon’s army. His mother was Scottish. Litolff showed musical talent early. He began studying piano at age twelve. Ignaz Moscheles noticed him. Moscheles gave him free lessons.
Litolff was a prolific composer. He wrote operas symphonies and concertos. Today he is remembered for one piece. It is the scherzo from his Concerto Symphonique No 4.
Litolff’s life was full of adventure. At 17 he eloped with Elisabeth Etherington. They moved to France. He separated from Elisabeth in 1839. Later Litolff was even imprisoned for debt. He escaped by bribing a jailer.
He married Julie Meyer in 1851. She was the widow of a music publisher. Litolff took over the publishing firm. It became known as Litolff’s Verlag. This firm published inexpensive editions of classical music. Many people could now access classical music.
Litolff befriended many famous musicians. These included Franz Liszt and Hector Berlioz. Liszt even dedicated his First Piano Concerto to Litolff.
Litolff’s personal life was complex. He married four times. His third wife died. He then married a seventeen-year-old who nursed him back to health.
Despite his success Litolff faced challenges. His operas did not achieve great fame. He taught piano to make money. He was chef d’orchestre at the Opéra for a few years.
Henry Litolff died in 1891 near Paris. He was a versatile musician a performer and composer. He lived during the piano’s golden age. He composed five concertos symphoniques. They are like symphonies with piano. The piano provides texture. The orchestra introduces themes.
One of Litolff’s symphonies accompanied a film. It was Sergei Eisenstein’s Battleship Potemkin. The Bolshoi Theatre played it in 1925.
Litolff’s music was admired. But some critics found it showy. He was known as “The English Liszt.” He traveled the world giving concerts.
Today only the scherzo is regularly performed. But Hyperion Records has recorded his concertos. Peter Donohoe played the piano. The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra performed too.
Rue Henry Litolff reminds us of this musician. His life was full of passion and music. He left a mark on the world of classical music.