Description

SIR ISIDOR GEORGE HENSCHEL (BRESLAU, SILESIA, KINGDOM OF PRUSSIA, 18 FEBRUARY, 1850 – AVIEMORE, SCOTLAND, 10 SEPTEMBER, 1934)

 

 

 

 

From 1867 to 1870, George Henschel studied piano with Ignaz Moscheles and singing with Franz Götze at the Leipzig Conservatory, followed by studies in Berlin with Adolf Schultze and composer Friedrich Kiel. He made his first public appearance as a pianist in Berlin in 1862, and as a singer in Hirschberg (Silesia) in 1867. He quickly gained recognition as a conductor and concert singer. Johannes Brahms, who highly valued Henschel’s voice, even accompanied him on multiple occasions. In 1875, Henschel performed the role of Christ in J.S. Bach’s St. Matthew Passion under Brahms’ direction.

Henschel enjoyed significant success at the Lower Rhine Music Festival in 1874, and at his English debut in 1877. He continued performing in England from 1877 to 1881, and his notable appearance at the Lower Rhine Music Festival in Cologne in 1877 included singing the bass solo in Verdi’s Requiem, conducted by Verdi himself, who praised Henschel’s performance. From 1881 to 1884, he served as the first conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Later, he settled in London, where he conducted the London Symphony Concerts until 1886 and earned acclaim as both a concert and lieder singer, often accompanying himself on the piano during his recitals.

In 1886, Henschel joined the Royal College of Music in London as a teacher, and in 1890, he became a British citizen. He was celebrated at the Birmingham Festival in 1891 and 1894. Although he generally avoided the operatic stage, he made an exception when his opera Nubia premiered at the Dresden Court Opera in 1899; due to the baritone Karl Scheidemantel’s sudden illness, Henschel performed the role himself. He also performed as Hans Sachs in a concert rendition of Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg in London. From 1893 to 1895, he conducted the Scottish Symphony Orchestra in Glasgow. In 1914, he was knighted by King George V.

As a composer, Sir George Henschel’s works include three operas (Frederick the Fair, A Sea Change, and Nubia), incidental music for Hamlet, a Mass in eight parts, a Stabat Mater, a string quartet, and numerous sacred choral pieces and songs. His publications include Personal Recollections of J. Brahms (Boston, 1907) and Musings and Memories of a Musician (London, 1918).

Henschel’s first marriage was to soprano Lilian Bailey (born January 18, 1860, in Ohio; died November 4, 1901, in London), his student, with whom he often performed in lieder recitals. In 1907, he married singer Amy Louis, another of his students. His daughter from his first marriage, Helen Henschel, became a concert soprano, and his daughter from his second marriage, Georgia Henschel, was also recognized as a singer but was primarily known as an actress. Helen Henschel later published her father’s biography, When Soft Voices Die (London, 1944).

Henschel’s voice retained its quality into his later years, and in 1928, he recorded performances that hold great historical value. In 1931, at over 80 years of age, he returned to Boston to conduct the Boston Symphony Orchestra for its 50th anniversary. His life and career left a significant impact on the musical world, both as a performer and educator.

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. By the waters of Babylon (Dvořák) LB3 WA9843-1 Columbia, London 1929-12-12
2. Das Wandern (Schubert) D1621 WA6893-1 Columbia, London 1928-02-01
3. Der Erlkönig (Loewe) L2303 WAX4331-2 Columbia, London 1928-11-20
4. Der Leiermann (Schubert) D1621 WA6892-3 Columbia, London 1928-03-03
5. Die beiden Grenadiere (Schumann) L2302 WAX4303-2 Columbia, London 1928-11-12
6. Gruppe aus dem Tartarus (Schumann) L2302 WAX4332-7 Columbia, London 1928-12-14
7. Heinrich der Vogler (Loewe) L2303 WAX4304-2 Columbia, London 1928-11-12
8. Ich grolle nicht (Schumann) D1658 WA8086-1 Columbia, London 1928-11-12
9. Lachen und Weinen (Schubert) D1658 WA8067-1 Columbia, London 1928-11-03
10. Lied eines Schmiedes (Schumann) D1658 WA8086-1 Columbia, London 1928-11-12
11. Wait thou still (J. W. Franck) LB3 WA9844-2 Columbia, London 1929-12-12