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Adolf von Henselt was a German Romantic pianist, composer, and highly influential piano pedagogue who spent most of his career in Russia.Born in Schwabach, Bavaria, Henselt studied piano with Johann Nepomuk Hummel in Weimar and theory with Simon Sechter in Vienna. His early concert career showed immense promise. In 1838, he moved permanently to Saint Petersburg, Russia, becoming a pivotal figure in Russian musical life. Appointed Court Pianist and Inspector of Music, he taught at the Imperial Institute for Female Education and later the Conservatory, profoundly shaping Russian piano technique and pedagogy. Though his performing career dwindled due to extreme stage fright, he composed significant works, primarily for piano, known for their technical demands and lyrical beauty.

• Henselt suffered from crippling stage fright and nervous anxiety, which effectively ended his public concert career relatively early, despite his phenomenal technique. He reportedly practiced obsessively, sometimes up to 12 hours a day.
• His relocation to Russia in 1838 was transformative. He became a central figure in the St. Petersburg musical elite, exerting enormous influence as a teacher and advisor. Tsar Nicholas I ennobled him (hence 'von Henselt').
• Henselt developed a unique piano technique focused on achieving a powerful, sustained cantabile (singing) tone and wide stretches, facilitated by his unusually large hands. His pedagogical approach became foundational in the Russian school.
• He composed relatively little, focusing almost exclusively on piano music. His most famous works include the Piano Concerto in F minor, Op. 16, and the collections of études, particularly Op. 2 and Op. 5, which remain significant technical challenges.
• He died of a heart attack while taking a cure at a spa in Warmbrunn, Silesia (now Poland), in 1889. His legacy rests more on his profound pedagogical influence in Russia than his compositions or performances.