Composer. The popular spirit of his comic operas foreshadowed the French operetta style. Louis Joseph Ferdinand Herold was born in Paris, into a musical family of Alsatian descent. He entered the Paris Conservatory in 1806, studying under Mehul and Kreutzer, and won the Prix de Rome in 1812. After three years abroad he returned to France and spent most of his career struggling to gain a foothold in the Paris theatrical establishment, supporting himself with minor positions at the Theatre Italien and the Paris Opera. In 1828 Herold was awarded the Legion of Honor for his ballet music, notably the popular pastiche "La Fille mal gardee" (1828), but he had little success with his operas, mainly because of their poor librettos. He finally scored an unqualified hit with "Zampa" (1831), which gave him the financial freedom to compose as he pleased. "Le Pre aux clercs" (1832) was an even greater triumph, receiving over 1000 performances in Paris. Herold scarcely lived to enjoy his hard-won fame. Long afflicted with tuberculosis, he died at 41, leaving a final stage work, "Ludovic", unfinished. The score was completed by Halevy. Herold's compositions include 21 operas, six ballets, two symphonies, and three string quartets. Of these, only the sparkling overture of "Zampa" and "La Fille mal gardee" are heard today. A street in Paris is named for him.

Composer. The popular spirit of his comic operas foreshadowed the French operetta style. Louis Joseph Ferdinand Herold was born in Paris, into a musical family of Alsatian descent. He entered the Paris Conservatory in 1806, studying under Mehul and Kreutzer, and won the Prix de Rome in 1812. After three years abroad he returned to France and spent most of his career struggling to gain a foothold in the Paris theatrical establishment, supporting himself with minor positions at the Theatre Italien and the Paris Opera. In 1828 Herold was awarded the Legion of Honor for his ballet music, notably the popular pastiche "La Fille mal gardee" (1828), but he had little success with his operas, mainly because of their poor librettos. He finally scored an unqualified hit with "Zampa" (1831), which gave him the financial freedom to compose as he pleased. "Le Pre aux clercs" (1832) was an even greater triumph, receiving over 1000 performances in Paris. Herold scarcely lived to enjoy his hard-won fame. Long afflicted with tuberculosis, he died at 41, leaving a final stage work, "Ludovic", unfinished. The score was completed by Halevy. Herold's compositions include 21 operas, six ballets, two symphonies, and three string quartets. Of these, only the sparkling overture of "Zampa" and "La Fille mal gardee" are heard today. A street in Paris is named for him.

Bio by: Bobb Edwards