Rignold, Hugo (Henry)

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Rignold, Hugo (Henry)

Rignold, Hugo (Henry) , English conductor; b. Kingston upon Thames, May 15, 1905; d. London, May 30, 1976. He studied violin in Winnipeg and in 1920 returned to England as a scholarship student at the Royal Academy of Music in London of Hans Wessely (violin), Lionel Tertis (viola), and Leon Goossens (oboe). After working as a violinist and bandleader, he served in the Royal Air Force during World War II, during which time he conducted the Cairo Sym. Orch. (1944). In 1947 he conducted at Sadler’s Wells in London. From 1948 to 1954 he was principal conductor of the Liverpool Phil. In 1956, 1971–72, and 1973 he was resident guest conductor of the Cape Town Sym. Orch. He was music director of the Royal Ballet in London (1957–60) and of the City of Birmingham Sym. Orch. (1960–68).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire