HEROLD, (LOUIS-JOSEPH-)FERDINAND

born Jan. 28, 1791, Paris died Jan. 19, 1833, Paris French composer of early romantic operas who stands midway between D.-F.-E. Auber and Jacques Offenbach in the development of the opra comique. Hrold studied under C.-S. Catel and E.-N. Mhul and won the Prix de Rome in 1812. He was court pianist in Naples, where he produced his first opera, La giovent di Enrico V (1815; The Youth of Henry V). On his return to Paris he collaborated with Franois Boieldieu in the opera Charles de France (1816) and produced 12 light operas at the Opra-Comique between 1817 and 1830. Among his other operas are Vendme en Espagne (with Auber, 1823), Zampa (1831), and Le Pr aux clercs (1832; The Field of Honour). His ballets include La Fille mal garde (1828; The Unguarded Maiden) and La Belle au bois dormant (1829; The Sleeping Beauty).