Landon Ronald
Encyclopedia
Sir Landon Ronald (7 June 1873 – 14 August 1938) was an English conductor, composer, pianist, singing teacher and administrator. He was the son of Henry Russell
, noted composer of popular songs, and the half brother of the impresario Henry Russell
, founder of the Boston Opera Company
.
Landon Ronald was born in London and educated at St Marylebone Grammar School
. He studied at the Royal College of Music
, 1884-1890. He then worked at the Royal Opera House
, Covent Garden
, and became conductor of Augustus Harris
's touring company. In 1894, he toured the United States as accompanist for Nellie Melba
. From 1900 he worked for the recording company The Gramophone & Typewriter Ltd, predecessor of His Master's Voice (HMV), initially as pianist; he accompanied early recordings by distinguished singers such as Charles Santley
and Adelina Patti
.
From 1908 he was principal conductor of the New Symphony Orchestra (known as the Royal Albert Hall
Orchestra between about 1915 and 1928), with which he began to make records in 1909. He also worked with the Scottish Orchestra (afterwards the Royal Scottish National Orchestra
) and in Birmingham, where (according to the local critic Sydney Grew) he was distinguished by his imaginative programme-building.
As a conductor Ronald was especially noted as a concerto
accompanist; the critic Robert Elkin paid him an extraordinary compliment by describing Arthur Nikisch
as "the finest accompanist until Landon Ronald". Ronald was also closely associated with the music of Edward Elgar
; but since they both worked for the same record company, Ronald only recorded one of Elgar's works, the "Coronation March", on 7 March 1935, a year after Elgar's death. However, he was the pianist in the first performance of Elgar's Violin Sonata in E minor
in 1919, with W.H. Reed
the violinist.
He composed over 200 songs. These include "Serenade espagnole" recorded by the Italian tenor Enrico Caruso. The song describes a trip to Spain to see the capital city. An English song, "Down in the Forest", is still performed.
He was knighted in 1922, and published his memoirs Variations on a Personal Theme in the same year.
Henry Russell (musician)
Henry Russell was an English pianist, baritone singer and composer, born into a distinguished Jewish family.-Biography:...
, noted composer of popular songs, and the half brother of the impresario Henry Russell
Henry Russell (impresario)
Henry Russell was an English impresario, conductor, opera director, and singing teacher.-Biography:Henry Ronald Russell was born in London. He was the son of Henry Russell, a composer, pianist, and baritone, and his wife Hannah...
, founder of the 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...
.
Landon Ronald was born in London and 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...
. He studied at the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
, 1884-1890. He then worked at the Royal Opera House
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
, Covent Garden
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
, and became conductor of Augustus Harris
Augustus Harris
Sir Augustus Henry Glossop Harris , was a British actor, impresario, and dramatist.-Early life:Harris was born in Paris, France, the son of Augustus Glossop Harris , who was also a dramatist, and his wife, née Maria Ann Bone, a theatrical costumier...
's touring company. In 1894, he toured the United States as accompanist for Nellie Melba
Nellie Melba
Dame Nellie Melba GBE , born Helen "Nellie" Porter Mitchell, was an Australian operatic soprano. She became one of the most famous singers of the late Victorian Era and the early 20th century...
. From 1900 he worked for the recording company The Gramophone & Typewriter Ltd, predecessor of His Master's Voice (HMV), initially as pianist; he accompanied early recordings by distinguished singers such as Charles Santley
Charles Santley
Sir Charles Santley was an English-born opera and oratorio star with a bravuraFrom the Italian verb bravare, to show off. A florid, ostentatious style or a passage of music requiring technical skill technique who became the most eminent English baritone and male concert singer of the Victorian era...
and Adelina Patti
Adelina Patti
Adelina Patti was a highly acclaimed 19th-century opera singer, earning huge fees at the height of her career in the music capitals of Europe and America. She first sang in public as a child in 1851 and gave her last performance before an audience in 1914...
.
From 1908 he was principal conductor of the New Symphony Orchestra (known as the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
Orchestra between about 1915 and 1928), with which he began to make records in 1909. He also worked with the Scottish Orchestra (afterwards the Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra is Scotland's national symphony orchestra. Based in Glasgow, the 89-member professional orchestra also regularly performs in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee, and abroad. Formed in 1891 as the Scottish Orchestra, the company has performed full-time since 1950,...
) and in Birmingham, where (according to the local critic Sydney Grew) he was distinguished by his imaginative programme-building.
As a conductor Ronald was especially noted as a concerto
Concerto
A concerto is a musical work usually composed in three parts or movements, in which one solo instrument is accompanied by an orchestra.The etymology is uncertain, but the word seems to have originated from the conjunction of the two Latin words...
accompanist; the critic Robert Elkin paid him an extraordinary compliment by describing Arthur Nikisch
Arthur Nikisch
Arthur Nikisch ; 12 October 185523 January 1922) was a Hungarian conductor who performed internationally, holding posts in Boston, London and - most importantly - Berlin. He was considered an outstanding interpreter of the music of Bruckner, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven and Liszt...
as "the finest accompanist until Landon Ronald". Ronald was also closely associated with the music of Edward Elgar
Edward Elgar
Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet OM, GCVO was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestral works including the Enigma Variations, the Pomp and Circumstance Marches, concertos...
; but since they both worked for the same record company, Ronald only recorded one of Elgar's works, the "Coronation March", on 7 March 1935, a year after Elgar's death. However, he was the pianist in the first performance of Elgar's Violin Sonata in E minor
Violin Sonata (Elgar)
Sir Edward Elgar wrote his Violin Sonata in E minor, Op. 82, in 1918, at the same time as he wrote his String Quartet in E minor and his Piano Quintet in A minor...
in 1919, with W.H. Reed
William Henry Reed
William Henry "Billy" Reed was an English violinist, teacher, minor composer, conductor and biographer of Sir Edward Elgar...
the violinist.
He composed over 200 songs. These include "Serenade espagnole" recorded by the Italian tenor Enrico Caruso. The song describes a trip to Spain to see the capital city. An English song, "Down in the Forest", is still performed.
He was knighted in 1922, and published his memoirs Variations on a Personal Theme in the same year.