Henry Russell

Henry Russell (14 November 1871 – 11 October 1937) was an English impresario, conductor, director, and singing teacher. Early life Henry Ronald Russell was born in London, the son of Henry Russell, a composer, pianist, and baritone, and his partner (later wife) Hannah de Lara, an artist. He was the brother of the musician Sir Landon Ronald. From his father's first marriage to Isabella Lloyd, a member of the Lloyd banking family, he had two elder half brothers, novelist William Clark Russell and Anglican priest Henry Lloyd Russell. He was educated at St Marylebone Grammar School. Russell was "first destined for medicine, but severe illness diverted him to music." After St Marylebone, he then pursued studies in singing at the Royal College of Music and conducting in Italy. Career Russell began his career as a singing teacher, first in London (where Nellie Melba supplied him with his first singing pupils) 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 House, Covent Garden, London in late 1905. Russell and his company were responsible for presenting the whole 1905-1906 season at Covent Garden, and Russell directed or conducted all the productions.