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Manuel Rosenthal (born June 18, 1904, Paris, France; died June 5, 2003, Paris) was a French composer and conductor. He was born out of wedlock, to Anna Devorsosky, a Russian woman, and to a French father. His surname was his stepfather's surname. Rosenthal began violin studies at age 6. After his stepfather's death in 1918, Rosenthal played the violin to support his mother and his sister, working in cafés and cinemas.[1] [2]
[edit] Early career
In 1920, Rosenthal entered the Conservatoire in Paris. In addition to continuing his violin studies, he also studied composition. He wrote a Sonatine for two violins and piano for a sight-reading examination, and the work received acclaim after its performance at the 100th concert of the Société Musicale Independante in Paris. Later, he became Maurice Ravel's third and final student. Ravel arranged for Rosenthal's conducting debut, at a concert of Rosenthal's own music in 1928.[2]
[edit] Conducting career
His conducting career began fully in 1934, when he became a percussionist and assistant conductor of the Orchestre National de France, to Désiré-Emile Inghelbrecht. Rosenthal's musical career was interrupted by WWII, when he became a prisoner of war in 1940. Upon his liberation in 1944, he returned to the Orchestre National de France to become their principal conductor, a post he would hold until 1947. In his final year with the orchestra he brought them to join Sir Thomas Beecham and the Royal Philharmonic in a concert that filled the Harringay Arena with 13,500 listeners.[3]
His other later posts included music director of the Seattle Symphony from 1948-1951 and music director of the Orchestre Symphonique de Liège from 1964-1967. Rosenthal also served as professor of conducting at the Paris Conservatoire from 1962 to 1974.
Rosenthal composed works in all classical forms, including operas, operettas, ballets, 13 works for orchestra, choral works with orchestra and a capella, works for solo voice and orchestra, chamber music, music for voice and piano, and solo piano music.[1] [2] However, his best-known work as a composer was the 1938 ballet Gaîté Parisienne, which he arranged based on the music of Jacques Offenbach. The commission by Léonide Massine was originally meant for Roger Désormière, but for lack of time, Désormière asked Rosenthal, a friend, to undertake the arrangement. Rosenthal was initially reluctant, but fulfilled the commission. Massine then rejected the score, but after arbitration by Igor Stravinsky, finally accepted the work and choreographed the ballet, which was a major success.[1]
[edit] Personal life
Rosenthal was married twice. His first marriage was to a chorus girl in 1927, with the surname Troussier. He had begun a relationship with the soprano Claudine Verneuil whilst still married to his first wife. However, during his tenure in Seattle, Claudine Verneuil was presented as Rosenthal's wife, even though he had not divorced Troussier. With the discovery of his first marriage, Rosenthal's Seattle contract was terminated. In 1952, Rosenthal formally divorced Troussier and married Verneuil, He had two sons.[2]
[edit] Selected recordings
[edit] References
[edit] External links
