Harold Rosenthal
Harold Rosenthal | |
---|---|
Born | Harold David Rosenthal |
Alma mater | University College London |
Occupation(s) | Music critic, writer |
Harold David Rosenthal
He was a continual campaigner on behalf of opera, and was a strong opponent of its élitist image and inflated seat prices. In the early 1950s he was appointed archivist to the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, which led to his most substantial publication, Two Centuries of Opera at Covent Garden.
Life and career
Rosenthal was born in
After the war, Rosenthal became a schoolmaster, teaching history and English from 1946 to 1950.[2] He became increasingly interested in music, appearing frequently as a critic and lecturer, particularly on opera. From 1947 to 1952 he was a correspondent for the American journal Opera News. A fellow enthusiast for opera, Lord Harewood, worked with him on the journal Ballet and Opera in 1948 and 1949. In 1950 Harewood founded the magazine Opera and invited Rosenthal to join him as assistant editor.[3] Rosenthal resigned from his teaching post and devoted himself to music for the rest of his life.[3] When Harewood left to take up work in opera administration, Rosenthal succeeded him as editor, holding the post from 1953 until 1986. In the early years of his editorship he was also archivist to the Royal Opera House (1950–56) which led to his most substantial book, Two Centuries of Opera at Covent Garden (1958). From 1955 to 1960 he was a correspondent for the journal Musical America.[1]
In addition to his writing, Rosenthal was recruited in an administrative capacity in a variety of musical roles. He was a member of the British Arts Council Patrons of Music Fund (1960–70) and chairman of the music section of the Critics' Circle of Great Britain (1965–67). From 1962 he served on the council of the Friends of Covent Garden. He also played an administrative role in international festivals, notably
Rosenthal also received an Honorary Doctorate from Heriot-Watt University in 1985[5]
Rosenthal died in London in 1987, aged 69.[1]
Publications
Rosenthal's principal books include:
- Sopranos of Today (1956)
- Two Centuries of Opera at Covent Garden (1958)
- The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Opera (with John Warrack) (1964)
- Great Singers of Today (1965)
- The Mapleson Memoirs (1966)
- My Mad World of Opera (1982). Autobiography[2]
References
Notes
- ^ a b c d e Seaman, G. R. "Rosenthal, Harold David (1917–1987)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004. Retrieved 28 December 2009
- ^ a b c Contemporary Authors Online "Harold (David) Rosenthal", Gale. Retrieved 28 December 2009
- ^ a b c The Times (London), obituary, 21 March 1987
- ^ Sadie, Stanley. "Rosenthal, Harold D(avid)", Oxford Music Online (requires subscription). Retrieved 27 December 2009
- ^ "Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh: Honorary Graduates". www1.hw.ac.uk. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
Sources
- Rosenthal, Harold (1982), My Mad World of Opera, London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson. ISBN 0-297-78016-6