Onslow, George. (1784–1853). Autograph Letter to George Kastner. ALS from the French composer of English descent. 2 1/2 pp. Paris, 18 April [n.y.]. In French, sending J.G. Kastner (1810-1867, German composer and musicologist) three volumes including his compositions Opus 62-64, remarking that the third volume is dated 1842 and that the shipment includes movements from an unpublished quartet. He thanks Kastner for his kind disposition towards his works and asks that "if you have the kindness to occupy yourself with these indecipherable manuscripts, I would be grateful if you would do so before the 1st of May, around which time I will leave Paris." He goes on to mention that the French painter Paul Delaroche has promised to meet him at the Académie' ["il (Delaroche) m'a promis de venir ... et de vous donnez sa voix"]. In fine condition.
Esteemed by many of the critics of his time, Onslow was especially celebrated in Germany and England, but his reputation declined swiftly after his death and has only been revived in recent years. A student of Anton Reicha in Paris, his wealth, position and personal tastes allowed him to pursue a path unfamiliar to most of his French contemporaries, more similar to that of his contemporary German romantic composers. His principal output was chamber music (including 36 string quartets and 34 string quintets!) but he also wrote four symphonies and four operas. In 1825 in Paris he met the 16-year-old Felix Mendelssohn, who enjoyed a performance of one of Onslow's quartets and in 1831 Onslow was elected the second Honorary Fellow of the Philharmonic Society of London (Felix Mendelssohn had been the first). In 1834, Frédéric Chopin and Franz Liszt played Onslow's Grand Sonata for four hands Op. 22 at their debut joint performance in Paris and from 1835 to 1838 Onslow was the President of the Athenée musical in Paris, an association founded in 1829 "to propagate the study and the spirit of music", with the intention of bringing together both amateurs and professionals.
Esteemed by many of the critics of his time, Onslow was especially celebrated in Germany and England, but his reputation declined swiftly after his death and has only been revived in recent years. A student of Anton Reicha in Paris, his wealth, position and personal tastes allowed him to pursue a path unfamiliar to most of his French contemporaries, more similar to that of his contemporary German romantic composers. His principal output was chamber music (including 36 string quartets and 34 string quintets!) but he also wrote four symphonies and four operas. In 1825 in Paris he met the 16-year-old Felix Mendelssohn, who enjoyed a performance of one of Onslow's quartets and in 1831 Onslow was elected the second Honorary Fellow of the Philharmonic Society of London (Felix Mendelssohn had been the first). In 1834, Frédéric Chopin and Franz Liszt played Onslow's Grand Sonata for four hands Op. 22 at their debut joint performance in Paris and from 1835 to 1838 Onslow was the President of the Athenée musical in Paris, an association founded in 1829 "to propagate the study and the spirit of music", with the intention of bringing together both amateurs and professionals.
Onslow, George. (1784–1853). Autograph Letter to George Kastner. ALS from the French composer of English descent. 2 1/2 pp. Paris, 18 April [n.y.]. In French, sending J.G. Kastner (1810-1867, German composer and musicologist) three volumes including his compositions Opus 62-64, remarking that the third volume is dated 1842 and that the shipment includes movements from an unpublished quartet. He thanks Kastner for his kind disposition towards his works and asks that "if you have the kindness to occupy yourself with these indecipherable manuscripts, I would be grateful if you would do so before the 1st of May, around which time I will leave Paris." He goes on to mention that the French painter Paul Delaroche has promised to meet him at the Académie' ["il (Delaroche) m'a promis de venir ... et de vous donnez sa voix"]. In fine condition.
Esteemed by many of the critics of his time, Onslow was especially celebrated in Germany and England, but his reputation declined swiftly after his death and has only been revived in recent years. A student of Anton Reicha in Paris, his wealth, position and personal tastes allowed him to pursue a path unfamiliar to most of his French contemporaries, more similar to that of his contemporary German romantic composers. His principal output was chamber music (including 36 string quartets and 34 string quintets!) but he also wrote four symphonies and four operas. In 1825 in Paris he met the 16-year-old Felix Mendelssohn, who enjoyed a performance of one of Onslow's quartets and in 1831 Onslow was elected the second Honorary Fellow of the Philharmonic Society of London (Felix Mendelssohn had been the first). In 1834, Frédéric Chopin and Franz Liszt played Onslow's Grand Sonata for four hands Op. 22 at their debut joint performance in Paris and from 1835 to 1838 Onslow was the President of the Athenée musical in Paris, an association founded in 1829 "to propagate the study and the spirit of music", with the intention of bringing together both amateurs and professionals.
Esteemed by many of the critics of his time, Onslow was especially celebrated in Germany and England, but his reputation declined swiftly after his death and has only been revived in recent years. A student of Anton Reicha in Paris, his wealth, position and personal tastes allowed him to pursue a path unfamiliar to most of his French contemporaries, more similar to that of his contemporary German romantic composers. His principal output was chamber music (including 36 string quartets and 34 string quintets!) but he also wrote four symphonies and four operas. In 1825 in Paris he met the 16-year-old Felix Mendelssohn, who enjoyed a performance of one of Onslow's quartets and in 1831 Onslow was elected the second Honorary Fellow of the Philharmonic Society of London (Felix Mendelssohn had been the first). In 1834, Frédéric Chopin and Franz Liszt played Onslow's Grand Sonata for four hands Op. 22 at their debut joint performance in Paris and from 1835 to 1838 Onslow was the President of the Athenée musical in Paris, an association founded in 1829 "to propagate the study and the spirit of music", with the intention of bringing together both amateurs and professionals.