George Henschel (original) (raw)

George Henschel

John Singer Sargent -- American painter

1889

Private collection

Oil on canvas

63.5 x 53.3 cm (25 x 21 in.)

Upper left:) to my friend Henschel (Upper right:) John S. Sargent. '89 signed

Jpg: Spanierman Gallery

When John painted him, Henschel was directing the London Symphony Concerts and was very much apart of that circle of artist in London.

From: Morrison Foundation.org

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.

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.
(morrisonfoundation.org)

Philip Alexius de Laszlo

Sir George Henschel
1917

Notes:
Sold at Spanierman Gallery. Date unknown