HENSCHEL

henschel, george [isidor georg] (1850- ), english musician (naturalized 1890), of german family, was born at breslau, and educated as a pianist, making his first public appearance in berlin in 1862. he subsequently, however, took up singing, having developed a fine baritone voice; and in 1868 he sang the part of hans sachs in _meistersinger_ at munich. in 1877 he began a successful career in england, singing at the principal concerts; and in 1881 he married the american soprano, lilian bailey (d. 1901), who was associated with him in a number of vocal recitals. he was also prominent as a conductor, starting the london symphony concerts in 1886, and both in england and america (where he was the first conductor of the boston symphony concerts, 1881) he took a leading part in advancing his art. he composed a number of instrumental works, a fine _stabat mater_ (birmingham festival, 1894), &c., and an opera, _nubia_ (dresden, 1899).