Henselt, Adolf von

Although largely forgotten today, Adolf von Henselt (1814–1889) enjoyed considerable fame during his lifetime. A child prodigy from Bavaria, he studied with Hummel before settling in Saint Petersburg, where he became one of the founding fathers of Russian pianism. His playing was noted for its ethereal legato and immense sonority, qualities that deeply impressed contemporaries such as Liszt and Anton Rubinstein.

Though best known today for a single étude, Henselt’s broader piano output reveals a composer of rare refinement and emotional depth. His lyrical Poème d’Amour, the dramatic Ballade, and his exquisitely crafted Impromptus and Grande Valse combine Romantic expressivity with a uniquely fluid pianistic style. These works reflect the same ideals that shaped his legendary technique: cantabile playing, harmonic richness and seamless melodic lines.

Felix Editions publishes newly engraved, critically revised editions of Henselt’s piano works, restoring them to the clarity and elegance of the early sources.