Sir George Henschel

Sir George Henschel , 1850-1934, German-English conductor, composer, and baritone. His first appearance (1877) in England was as a singer, and there he and his wife inaugurated (c.1880) the song recital. In 1881 he became the Boston Symphony Orchestra's first conductor. He returned to England in 1884 and was professor of singing (1886-88) at the Royal College of Music, London. He founded (1886) the London Symphony Concerts, which he conducted until they ceased in 1897. In his musical compositions, which include operas, songs, choral works, and instrumental music, he was strongly influenced by Brahms and Wagner. He was knighted in 1914. His first wife, Lillian June (Bailey) Henschel, 1860-1901, was an American soprano. She made her debut in Boston in 1876, then studied (1878) with Viardot-Garcia in Paris and later with Henschel, whom she married in 1881.

Henschel, (Sir) George [ Isidor Georg Henschel] (b Breslau, 1850; d Aviemore, Scotland, 1934). Eng. baritone, pianist, conductor, and composer of Ger. birth (Brit. cit. 1890). Public début as pianist, Berlin 1862. Leipzig Cons. 1867–70; Berlin Royal Cons. 1870–4. Sang Hans Sachs in concert perf. of Die Meistersinger, Munich 1868. In 1875 sang in Bach's St Matthew Passion, cond. by Brahms, of whom he became close friend. London début 1877. First cond. Boston SO 1881–4. Prof. of singing, RCM 1886–8 and Inst. of Mus. Art, NY, 1905–8. Cond., London Symphony Concerts 1886–96. Cond. Scottish Orch. 1891–5. Acc. himself as singer. Continued to broadcast and record until past 70. Comp. 3 operas, str. qt., choral works, songs, etc. Knighted 1914.