George Henschel (1850-1934)

(Letter March 18, 1886)

TRANSCRIPTION

25, Gloucester Road
Regent's Park, N.W.

Mar. 18, 1886

Dear Mrs. [____]

        I hear from Mr. Heuty[?]
that you will be in  town
[___] a few days and I
write to ask if you would
be so very kind as to
allow me to come
see you for a few
minutes on a musical
subject of great import-
ance.

        Any day and

+++++Page two+++++

any hour most
convenient for you
will be equally agree-
able to me.

With our united best
regards [be_____] me

        Very truly yours

        Geo. Henschel

ABOUT THE COMPOSER

Sir George (Isidor Georg) Henschel (b. Feb. 18, 1850; d. Sept. 10, 1934),  was a celebrated singer, composer and conductor. He entered the Leipzig Conservatory in 1867 and studied piano under Moscheles, theory with Reinecke and Richter for theory, singing with Goetze for singing, and organ with Papperitz. He quickly became a recognized singer in German and England. In 1881, Henschel was appointed conductor of the newly founded Boston Symphony Orchestra, which he conducted for its first three seasons. In 1884, he moved to England where two years later, in 1886, he established the London Symphony Concerts, which were an important part of musical life in London during the eleven years of their existence. He befriended Johannes Brahms in 1874 and in 1876 they spent a holiday together. Henschel’s diary holds many important remembrances of Brahms.

This article appeared in The Musical Times, (No. 640, Vol. 37, June 1, 1896, p. 383): "The American Art Journal says of Mr. Henschel's Stabat Mater [Op.53] that the composer has 'imprinted upon some of its members a depth of feeling that is akin to musical inspiration, while the impress of a strong intellectuality is not lacking in it, and, as is to be expected from a modern composer, the music is emotional when the sense admits of it.' I absolutely agree." The article is signed by Joseph Bennett.

In the same issue of The Musical Times (op.cit) at page 386: RE: Bristol Royal-Orpheus Society concert given in St. James's Hall on April 24, [1896]: . . ."Mr. Henschel's bold and effective song Jung Dieterich [Op. 45] was finely sung by Mr. Andrew Black . . .

After his wife’s death in 1901, Henschel lived in retirement in Scotland until 1907, when he married a pupil. Miss Amy Louis of New York. He returned to the concert platform in 1909, and for five years sang and gave recitals in England and on the Continent. In Apr. 1914, the year in which he received knighthood, he gave a farewell recital in London.

As a composer his works include a Te Deum, a Stabat Mater, and a Requiem Mass ( in memory of his first wife); many songs, anthems and song cycles; 3 operas and several works for orchestra.

REV. 4/12/2006

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