Frédéric Alfred d'Erlanger
Frédéric Alfred d'Erlanger | |
|---|---|
| Born | Frédéric Alfred d'Erlanger Error: Invalid birth date for calculating age Paris, France |
| Died | April 23, 1943 (aged 74) London, England |
| Other names | Ferd. Regnal (pseudonym) |
| Occupation(s) | Composer, financier, arts patron |
| Years active | Late 19th century – early 20th century |
| Known for | Operas, orchestral and chamber music; banking and arts patronage |
Baron Frédéric Alfred d'Erlanger (29 May 1868 – 23 April 1943) was a distinguished Anglo-French composer, financier, and supporter of the arts. His father, Baron Frédéric Émile d'Erlanger, managed a French banking institution with German roots. His mother, Mathilde (née Slidell), hailed from the United States.
Life
Born in Paris as one of four brothers, d'Erlanger pursued musical studies under Anselm Ehmant and published his initial songs by age 20. In 1886, he relocated to London alongside his older brother, Baron Emile Beaumont d'Erlanger, to engage with the family’s banking enterprise. Both siblings obtained British citizenship.
Wealthy through banking, d'Erlanger was a prominent figure in London's cultural scene, providing financial backing for opera productions at Covent Garden and acting as a trustee of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. His investments spanned emerging economies, including department stores in South America and railway ventures in South Africa. As a founding participant of the Oxford and Cambridge Musical Club, he played an active role in its musical activities.
By 1918, his home was listed as Park House on Rutland Gate in London. He wed Catherine, a Frenchwoman from a notable lineage, in 1925.
In 1932, d'Erlanger ceremoniously laid the cornerstone for the Musicians' House (later known as Merebank House) near Dorking and Horsham. This facility was established by the Musicians' Union to serve as a retirement residence for professional musicians.
At his passing on 23 April 1943 at Claridges Hotel in London, his address was recorded as 4 Moorgate. His estate amounted to £601,461. The executors named included his nephew, Leo Frédéric Alfred Baron d’Erlanger, son of the artist Baron Rodolphe d'Erlanger, alongside a legal professional.
Music
Although primarily a banker by profession, d'Erlanger was an enthusiastic amateur composer who financed his artistic endeavors independently. His compositions encompass operas, chamber pieces, and orchestral works. Notable operas include Jehan de Saintré (premiered in Aix-les-Bains, 1893; Hamburg, 1894), Inès Menso (under the pseudonym Ferd. Regnal at Covent Garden in 1897; known in Germany as Die Erbe), Tess—adapted from Thomas Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles (staged at Teatro di San Carlo in Naples in 1906; Covent Garden in 1909 under conductor Ettore Panizza), and Noël (performed at Paris Opéra-Comique in 1910). In 1935, his one-act ballet Les cents baisers, with libretto by Boris Kochno, was produced by the Ballets Russes featuring choreography by Bronislava Nijinska and set and costume designs by Jean Hugo. This ballet was subsequently recorded by Antal Dorati conducting the London Symphony Orchestra.
His orchestral repertoire includes Suite symphonique No. 2, which debuted at the Proms in 1895; the Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 17 (1902), initially performed by Hugo Heermann and later introduced to British audiences by Fritz Kreisler; the Andante Symphonique, Op. 18 for cello and orchestra (1904); the symphonic prelude Sursum Corda! (1919); along with the Concerto Symphonique for piano and orchestra (1921). The choral work Messe de Requiem (1930) earned admiration and was conducted by Adrian Boult. His orchestral waltz Midnight Rose gained recognition through a 1934 recording conducted by John Barbirolli. Chamber compositions include a String Quartet and Violin Sonata in G minor (both composed in 1900), as well as a Piano Quintet premiered at St James's Hall in 1902 with d'Erlanger himself on piano.
D'Erlanger’s musical style is characterized by refined structure and graceful expression throughout his operatic, chamber, orchestral, and vocal pieces. A resurgence of interest has resulted in recordings of his Piano Quintet, Violin Concerto, Andante Symphonique, Concerto Symphonique, and Prelude Romantique. Additionally, the Birmingham Festival Choral Society revived his Messa de Requiem during a live concert performance in 2001.
Operas
- Jehan de Saintré (libretto by J. & P. Ferrier; presented in 2 acts. First performed on 1 August 1893, Aix-les-Bains).
- Inès Mendo (text by P. Decourcelle & A. Liorat, adapted from Prosper Mérimée; structured in 3 acts. Debuted 10 July 1897 at Covent Garden, London).
- Tess (Italian libretto by Luigi Illica, based on Thomas Hardy’s novel Tess of the d’Urbervilles; composed in 4 acts. Premiered in 1906 at Naples’ Teatro San Carlo).
- Noël (libretto by J. & P. Ferrier; premiered on 28 December 1910 in Paris).
Ballet
- Les cent baisers (1931)
Concertante compositions
- Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 17 (1903)
- Andante Symphonique for cello and orchestra, Op. 18 (1904)
- Ballade for violin and orchestra
- Concerto symphonique for piano and orchestra (1921)
- Poème for violin and orchestra in D major (1926)
Orchestral pieces
- Suite Symphonique No. 1 (1893)
- Suite Symphonique No. 2 (1895)
- Waltz for orchestra: Midnight Rose
- Andante symphonique, Op. 18 (1904)
- Prelude for orchestra: Sursum Corda! (1919)
- Prélude romantique (1935)
Choral compositions
- Messe de Requiem (1930)
Chamber music
- Violin and piano Prelude (1895)
- String Quartet (1900)
- Violin Sonata in G minor (1900)
- Piano Quintet (1901)
Piano works
- Etude Concertante No. 1 (1899)
- Etude Concertante No. 2 (1900)
Songs
- Chanson légère, inspired by E.B. Sozios (1896)
- A selection including Les deux sommeils, Dans tes yeux, among others, set to texts by E.-B. d'Erlanger and poets such as Victor Hugo and Paul Verlaine (1917–1922)