Mr. and Mrs. Henschel: The BSO's First Family
Georg Henschel (1850-1934) and his wife Lillian Bailey Henschel (1860–1901) were both accomplished performers and often collaborated in joint recitals or orchestral concerts. They counted many prominent musicians of the day amongst their social circle, as demonstrated by Lillian Henschel's sandalwood fan. Georg Henschel also composed several works, some of which were performed by the BSO during his tenure as its first conductor.
During Henschel's three seasons with the BSO, the orchestra developed a rhythm of Boston subscription concerts, Cambridge concerts, and concerts in surrounding cities, a schedule that would persist for several decades. As demonstrated by the letter included here, Henschel was reluctant to "lighten" orchestra concerts despite popular urging. Henschel has also been the BSO's youngest conductor: the musicians observed his 32nd birthday during his first season. Fifty years later, he returned to Boston in October 1930 to conduct the orchestra in the first concert of its Jubilee (50th) anniversary season.
Profile portrait of a performing pair: Lillian Bailey Henschel, soprano, and her husband conductor-baritone Georg Henschel
The Henschels: A Musical Couple
Georg Henschel and his first wife, Lillian Bailey, a well-known American soprano, ca. 1882
Photographer unknown
Program featuring Georg Henschel and his wife Lillian Bailey Henschel in a joint recital in Boston on April 5, 1892
Both accomplished singers, the Henschels often performed together, whether in chamber settings or larger orchestral collaborations. Mrs. Henschel (as she was termed on the program) was a frequent soloist with the BSO during Henschel’s tenure. This recital took place after Henschel’s tenure with the orchestra had ended.
BSO score for Henschel composition entitled Serenade for Strings
In addition to conducting and singing, Henschel also composed several works, including this Serenade for Strings that was performed by the BSO on January 18 and 19, 1884.
Henschel scrapbook
Reviews of Georg Henschel’s performances, both as singer and conductor, in Europe and the United States, many pre-dating his appointment as conductor of the BSO.
Gift of Styra Avins and Josef Eisinger, 2019
Lillian Henschel's Sandalwood Fan
Nineteenth century sandalwood autograph fan, signed by Brahms and Strauss
This fan was most likely owned by Lillian Henschel. In his autobiography, her husband describes her owning such a fan, and the couple arrived in Vienna on April 23, 1894 and spent several days with Brahms, Ignaz Brüll, Max Kalbeck, Carl Goldmark, and Johann Strauss II.
The fan was signed by the following artists (bottom to top):
- Marie Wittich (1868-1931), German soprano, inscribed Dresden, [18]99
- Ernst Von Schuch (1846-1914), German conductor, inscribed Dec. 1900
- Johannes Brahms (1833-1897), composer
- Johann Strauss II (1825-1899), composer, inscribed Vien [Vienna] 24 April 1894 with a musical quotation from Strauss's Emperor Waltz, op. 437
- Max Kalbeck (1850-1921), German writer and critic, friend of Brahms and author of Brahms' biography, inscribed Vien [Vienna], 25 April 1894
- Karl Goldmark (1830-1915), Hungarian-born Viennese composer
- Ignaz Brüll (1846-1907) Moravian-born Viennese pianist and composer, inscribed Vien [Vienna] 26 April [18]94, with a musical quotation
Georg Henschel's BSO
Letter written from BSO conductor Georg Henschel to BSO founder and patron Henry Lee Higginson, dated August 1, 1882
In this letter Henschel disagrees with the Transcript and with Bacon of the Herald, arguing strongly against lightening the programs by leaving out the symphonies. “The public of Boston is as far as I know it as intelligent a public as any European of a town of as many inhabitants.” He would be willing to pay Listemann (the BSO’s concertmaster) out of his own salary to conduct a series of eight light concerts with waltzes, etc. if this were thought desirable. It was not until 1885, under William Gericke’s tenure, that the Boston Pops concerts were born.
Silver bowl presented to Georg Henschel by members of the orchestra upon the occasion of his 32nd birthday on February 18, 1882, during the first BSO season
Gift of Victor Romanul, 2001
Newspaper clipping depicting Georg Henschel, the BSO’s first conductor, shaking hands with then BSO Music Director Serge Koussevitzky in 1930
To aid in the celebration of the BSO’s Jubilee, Henschel returned to Boston and conducted the first weekend of concerts of the 50th anniversary season.