A pupil of Czerny in Vienna, he was giving concerts across Europe from the age of twelve. Settled in Paris, he had Berlioz, Chopin and Liszt for friends and Schumann for commentator; but the intimate Romanticism he lived by went out of fashion, and he died practically forgotten.
The story
Born at Pest on 15 May 1813, a pupil of Czerny in Vienna, Stephen Heller was giving concerts across Europe from the age of twelve: one more child prodigy, in a century that produced a great many.
He settled in Paris and found his friends there: Berlioz, Chopin, Liszt. Schumann wrote about him. He belonged to that circle without ever having its glory.
His output is almost entirely for the piano: studies and character pieces, long played by pupils and neglected by virtuosos.
Fashion moved on. The intimate romanticism he lived by no longer interested the concert halls, and his reputation died out while he was still alive.
He died in Paris on 14 January 1888, practically forgotten. A bronze bust by Maurice Quef was set on his grave in 1907, nineteen years later — together with a bronze palm that has since gone.
The grave
A bronze bust by the sculptor Maurice Quef, set up in 1907, nineteen years after the pianist's death — a belated tribute to a man who died practically forgotten. The bronze palm that accompanied it has vanished. The inscription bears his name twice: “Stephen HELLER, 1814-1888” — the stone runs a year ahead of the civil record, Heller having been born on 15 May 1813 at Pest — then the dedication of those who had the bust set up: “A Stephen HELLER” — to Stephen Heller.
On site, do not miss
The bronze bust by Maurice Quef, set up in 1907 — nineteen years after the pianist's death. The bronze palm that accompanied it has vanished; the dedication “A Stephen HELLER” remains.
Visitors' questions
Where is Stephen Heller's grave?
In Division 90, Avenue Transversale No. 2, third row, beneath a bronze bust. The inscription carries his name twice: “Stephen HELLER, 1814-1888” — the stone runs a year ahead, he was born in 1813 — and, lower down, the dedication “A Stephen HELLER”.
Émile WaldteufelWho were Stephen Heller's friends?
Berlioz, Chopin and Liszt, in Paris, where he had settled after a childhood as a prodigy — he was giving concerts across Europe by the age of twelve. Schumann wrote about his music. He belonged to the circle without ever having its glory.
Ignace PleyelWhat did Stephen Heller compose?
Almost exclusively for the piano: studies and character pieces, long played by pupils and overlooked by virtuosos. This is intimate Romanticism, the kind that stopped interesting the great concert halls.
Frédéric ChopinWas Heller known when he died?
No: he died practically forgotten, in 1888. It took until 1907 for a bronze bust to be set on his grave, nineteen years later, with a palm that has since disappeared.
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