Henry Russell (impresario)
Encyclopedia
Henry Russell was an English impresario
, conductor
, opera director, and singing teacher.
. He was the son of Henry Russell
, a composer, pianist, and baritone, and his wife Hannah. He was the brother of historian and novelist William Clark Russell
, and the half brother of conductor Landon Ronald
and Henry Lloyd Russell, an Episcopalian clergyman. He was educated at St Marylebone Grammar School
and then pursued studies in singing and conducting in Italy.
Russell began his career as a singing teacher, first in London and then in Rome. He then worked as a conductor at various opera houses in Italy. In 1904 he established the San Carlo Opera Company
(SCOC), originally a touring arm of the Teatro di San Carlo
of Naples
, Italy
. The company soon became its own institution and toured to the Royal Opera, London
in the Fall of 1905. Russell and his company were responsible for presenting the entirety of the 1905-1906 season at Covent Garden, and Russell either directed and/or conducted all of these productions.
After completing the season in London, Russell and the SCOC came to Boston, Massachusetts in the United States in 1906. The group remained based in Boston and gave tours annually of mostly Italian opera
s throughout the United States from 1906-1909 in addition to giving performances in Boston. With the opening of the Boston Opera House
in 1909, the company essentially became the seed for the newly formed Boston Opera Company
(BOC), which Russell co-founded with Bostonian millionaire Eben Jordan, Jr.
. He continued to direct the BOC until it went bankrupt in 1915.
After the BOC folded, Russell went to work for the Metropolitan Opera
in New York City as the company's associate director. He eventually returned to England where he was involved in directing productions at the Waldorf Theatre in London. He also directed a season of operas at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées
in Paris
. He was married to Nina Dandrade. He died in London at the age of 65.
Impresario
An impresario is a person who organizes and often finances concerts, plays or operas; analogous to a film producer in filmmaking, television production and an angel investor in business...
, conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
, opera director, and singing teacher.
Biography
Henry Ronald Russell was born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He was the son of Henry Russell
Henry Russell (musician)
Henry Russell was an English pianist, baritone singer and composer, born into a distinguished Jewish family.-Biography:...
, a composer, pianist, and baritone, and his wife Hannah. He was the brother of historian and novelist William Clark Russell
William Clark Russell
William Clark Russell was a popular American writer of nautical novels and horror stories.Born in New York City, he gained his experience of sea life during eight years' service as a sailor...
, and the half brother of conductor Landon Ronald
Landon Ronald
Sir Landon Ronald was an English conductor, composer, pianist, singing teacher and administrator...
and Henry Lloyd Russell, an Episcopalian clergyman. He was educated at St Marylebone Grammar School
St Marylebone Grammar School
St Marylebone Grammar School was a grammar school in London from 1792 to 1981.-Philological School:Founded as the Philological School by Thomas Collingwood, under the patronage of the Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany, its object was to help "the heads of families, who by unexpected...
and then pursued studies in singing and conducting in Italy.
Russell began his career as a singing teacher, first in London and then in Rome. He then worked as a conductor at various opera houses in Italy. In 1904 he established the San Carlo Opera Company
San Carlo Opera Company
The San Carlo Opera Company was the name of two different opera companies active in the United States during the first half of the twentieth century.-History:...
(SCOC), originally a touring arm of the Teatro di San Carlo
Teatro di San Carlo
The Real Teatro di San Carlo is an opera house in Naples, Italy. It is the oldest continuously active such venue in Europe.Founded by the Bourbon Charles VII of Naples of the Spanish branch of the dynasty, the theatre was inaugurated on 4 November 1737 — the king's name day — with a performance...
of Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. The company soon became its own institution and toured to the Royal Opera, London
Royal Opera, London
The Royal Opera is an opera company based in central London, resident at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Along with the English National Opera, it is one of the two principal opera companies in London. Founded in 1946 as the Covent Garden Opera Company, it was known by that title until 1968...
in the Fall of 1905. Russell and his company were responsible for presenting the entirety of the 1905-1906 season at Covent Garden, and Russell either directed and/or conducted all of these productions.
After completing the season in London, Russell and the SCOC came to Boston, Massachusetts in the United States in 1906. The group remained based in Boston and gave tours annually of mostly Italian opera
Italian opera
Italian opera is both the art of opera in Italy and opera in the Italian language. Opera was born in Italy around the year 1600 and Italian opera has continued to play a dominant role in the history of the form until the present day. Many famous operas in Italian were written by foreign composers,...
s throughout the United States from 1906-1909 in addition to giving performances in Boston. With the opening of the Boston Opera House
Boston Opera House (1909)
The Boston Opera House was an opera house located on Huntington Avenue in Boston, Massachusetts. It opened in 1909 as the home of the Boston Opera Company and was demolished in 1958 after years of disuse....
in 1909, the company essentially became the seed for the newly formed Boston Opera Company
Boston Opera Company
The Boston Opera Company was an American opera company located in Boston, Massachusetts that was active from 1909 to 1915.-History:The company was founded in 1908 by Bostonian millionaire Eben Dyer Jordan, Jr. and impresario Henry Russell...
(BOC), which Russell co-founded with Bostonian millionaire Eben Jordan, Jr.
Eben Dyer Jordan
Eben Dyer Jordan, Sr. was the co-founder of the department store chain Jordan Marsh with Benjamin L. Marsh in 1841.-Early life:...
. He continued to direct the BOC until it went bankrupt in 1915.
After the BOC folded, Russell went to work for the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
in New York City as the company's associate director. He eventually returned to England where he was involved in directing productions at the Waldorf Theatre in London. He also directed a season of operas at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées
Théâtre des Champs-Élysées
The Théâtre des Champs-Élysées is a theatre at 15 avenue Montaigne. Despite its name, the theatre is not on the Champs-Élysées but nearby in another part of the 8th arrondissement of Paris....
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. He was married to Nina Dandrade. He died in London at the age of 65.