Robert Adelson is Professor of Organology and Music History at the Conservatoire de Nice-Université Côte d'Azur. Between 2005 and 2016 he was curator of the collection of historical musical instruments at the Musée du Palais Lascaris in Nice and since 2017 he is curator of the Camac collection of historical harps. His numerous publications explore the history of the piano and the harp, opera and the sociology of music. In 2019, he received the Frances Densmore Prize, awarded by the American Musical Instrument Society.
"""Drawing on newly-discovered family archives, this vivid and fascinating book combines narrative verve and impeccable scholarship to tell the story of the Érards in an age of revolution and discovery, from Louis XVI to Queen Victoria. Their contributions to the harp and piano are with us today, as is the great music they inspired."" -- Christopher Clarke, Early keyboard specialist and piano builder"