|
Description
AUGUST MANNS autograph Letter Signed. Sir August Friedrich Manns. German born British conductor.
ALS. 4pp. Crystal Palace, Sydenham, SE. October 29th 1868. To Mr. Davison (the celebrated music critic of 'The Times'. James William Davison).
"The Sternbergs are bred and born in Brussells and are therefore Belgians and not Germans. I am made uncomfortable by every "Herr" that appears in print in connection with my Saturday Concerts because I am myself one of the unfortunate Teutonians who are always looked upon as too-much by a goodly number of Englishmen. Pray look kindly upon these two youngsters, they are both clever, and the girl will do our Concert Room good services if she suppresses her French enthusiasm and Belgian tremolo. Randegger tells me that she will sing Mendelssohn's concert aria creditably. Now don't be angry, but believe in the honesty of yours sincerely, A. Manns".
8vo bifolium. Approx 8 x 5 inches (20 x 13 cms). In very good condition.
A letter with excellent musical content. August Manns had been appointed as musical director of the Crystal Palace in 1855 and immediately embarked on his hugely popular series of Saturday Concerts that were to endure for almost half a century. He championed and did much to launch the careers of EDWARD ELGAR, Hubert Parry, Arthur Sullivan and Edward German. No doubt due to his Teutonic roots, he also introduced many German composers and performers, hitherto virtually unknown in Britain and, in this letter, he appears to display some sensitivity to perceived criticism of this.
|
|
