t h e r o s a t r o u p e
Charles Hallé
Charles Hallé,
born Karl Halle at Hagen in Westphalia on 11 April 1819, was the son of
the local choirmaster and organist. Musical education from his father
was followed by advanced training at Darmstadt and in 1836 he moved to
Paris where he became a close friend of Hector Berlioz. Political
unrest in 1848 led him to settle in Manchester as a pianist and
conductor who occasionally ventured into the opera house. He conducted
an opera season with Edward Loder at the Theatre Royal, Manchester, in
1854-55 and at Her Majesty’s Theatre, London, in 1860-61. But
he was mainly a concert conductor and in 1858 he founded and conducted
the Manchester based orchestra which still bears his name. He was
knighted in 1888 and a few years later founded the Royal Manchester
College of Music. The music of his old friend Berlioz frequently
featured in his concert programmes and in 1880 he introduced Damnation of Faust
to Manchester. It proved popular and would eventually lead
Hallé to make a brief return to opera.
The Damnation
was written as a cantata but in February 1893 an operatic version was
produced at Monte Carlo which, despite production difficulties in
transferring the work to the stage, enhanced the prestige of the Monte
Carlo Opera. The Rosa followed with an English language version. The
stage manager, T.H. Friend, was responsible for the staging and musical
director, Claude Jacquinot, in conjunction with Hallé, the
musical preparations. The opera orchestra was also enhanced by players
from the Hallé. This was not unusual when the company was
performing in the north of England but in this instance their
acquaintance with the music from concert performances would have been
invaluable. Announcements credited Friend with the English version but
it may have been adapted from that of Marie Hallé,
Hallé’s daughter, used for the 1880 Manchester
concert performance. Hallé as the champion of Berlioz was
guest conductor at the premiere at the Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool,
on 5 February 1894 and at one performance at the Theatre Royal,
Manchester, on 20 March. Jacquinot took the other performances.
The work was generally well received by public and critics although the
latter were unhappy with the ‘Ride to the Abyss’ in
the finale where the Monte Carlo version had magic lantern effects and
the Rosa had elaborate mechanical horses. A few thought it should never
had been staged at all but most thought it was worth the attempt. This,
Hallé’s only performances with the Rosa, was
probably his farewell to opera and one of his last tributes to Berlioz.
His sudden death on 25 October 1895 was mourned throughout the city. He
was buried at Weaste Cemetery four days later.
© 2017 John Ward
