Heller, STEPHEN

Heller, STEPHEN, pianist and musical composer, was born on 15th May 1813 at Pesth, and made a brilliant début as a pianist when only nine years of age. Before he was sixteen he had played in most of the principal cities of Europe. From 1830, when he settled in Augsburg, he began to study composition. In 1838 he removed to Paris, where he occupied himself with composing and teaching until his death, on 13th January 1888. In the matter of technique he must be ranked beside Chopin. He wrote almost exclusively for the pianoforte; his works, which number about 150, consist of sonatas, études, &c., and are distinguished by originality and refinement. See his Life by Barbedette (Paris, 1876).