Henry Litolff

19th-Century French-German Pianist and Composer

Henry Charles Litolff (1818–1891) was a piano virtuoso, composer, and music publisher of Franco-Scottish descent. He is best known for his series of five "Concerto Symphoniques." These works are for piano and orchestra, and they blend elements of the concerto with symphonic composition, which was somewhat innovative at the time. Litolff's career was marked by both his virtuosic skill at the keyboard and his contributions to music publishing. After founding his own publishing firm, Editions Litolff, he helped to make classical music more accessible to a wider audience. His "Concerto Symphonique No. 2 in B Minor" and "Concerto Symphonique No. 4 in D Minor" are among his most notable compositions, with the scherzo from the fourth concerto being particularly famous. Although not as widely recognized today as some of his contemporaries, Litolff's influence during the Romantic era and his efforts in music publication were significant. His works, including the mentioned concertos and piano trios, continue to be appreciated by classical music enthusiasts for their melodic inventiveness and technical demands on the performer.