author
Arthur Hervey
1855–1922
A gifted musical all-rounder, he moved from criticism into composition and became especially known for his deep knowledge of French music. Writing for major London publications while creating operas, orchestral works, and chamber music, he helped shape how listeners thought about music in his time.
1 Audiobook
Masters of French Music
by Arthur Hervey
About the author
Born in Paris on 26 January 1855 to an Irish family, he was first intended for a diplomatic career before turning seriously to music around 1880. He studied the violin with Berthold Tours and also worked in Paris with Édouard Marlois, building a background that linked British musical life with the French tradition he later wrote about so well.
He became a familiar voice in musical journalism, serving as critic for Vanity Fair from 1889 to 1892 and then for the Morning Post from 1892 to 1908. Alongside his criticism, he composed widely, including opera, orchestral music, songs, and chamber works, and he was often described as an expert on French music.
He died in London on 10 March 1922. Though not a household name today, he stands out as one of those figures who connected performance, composition, and criticism in a single career, leaving a picture of musical life in the late Victorian and early 20th-century world.