London’s composers presented the world with their beautiful musical works at different times. London can boast of a significant number of personalities who have made a great contribution to the development of this type of art. Although very often it was men who held positions in various institutions and generally took an active part in the public sphere of life, women also managed to show their talent and achieve success. Liza Lehmann was one of them. Her vocal compositions became famous all over the world. Her talent conquered the hearts of ordinary listeners and many professional musicians. Learn more at london-trend.
INHERITED PASSION FOR ART
Liza Lehmann was born in London on July 11, 1862. Art was present in her life from early childhood. Her father was an artist and her mother was a music teacher, arranger and composer. Therefore, it isn’t surprising that the girl became interested in music at an early age. At first, she studied singing in London. She was taught musical art by some of the most famous local teachers. The girl travelled a lot in her childhood. Liza lived in France, Italy and Germany, where she acquired the necessary knowledge and skills. Thus, the atmosphere in her family and familiarisation with art in its various manifestations encouraged her creative development.
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY AND PERSONAL LIFE
Liza Lehmann made her singing debut at a concert at St James’s Hall on 23 November 1885. Then she fell in love with performing on stage and continued her professional activities. That period lasted for almost nine years. Later, the singer married a composer and illustrator and they had two sons. The eldest one died during the First World War. The youngest son became an inventor and played an important role in the development of radar. The singer left the stage for a long time after a concert at St James’s Hall on July 14, 1894. Even though Liza Lehmann didn’t perform on stage, she still devoted a lot of time to music. After the marriage, she began to write her own musical compositions. In 1896, she wrote one of her most famous works, a cycle for four voices and piano In a Persian Garden. Later, she wrote In Memoriam and Bird Songs. A large number of her compositions were dedicated to children, for example, the song There are fairies at the bottom of our garden. These are harmonious and heart-warming melodies. In 1904, Liza Lehmann was commissioned to write the score for the musical comedy Sergeant Brue. In 1910, the composer made a tour to the USA performing her own songs at concerts. The woman is also known for her membership in many musical organisations. She became the first president of the Society of Women Musicians. In 1913, the composer was a professor of singing at the Guildhall School of Music. In the same year, she published a voice study text Practical Hints for Students of Singing.
In 1916, Liza Lehmann returned to writing texts for stage productions. Then she created the score for Laurence Housman’s opera. The production was a huge success not only in London but also in New York. In general, her works were distinguished by their originality. Although the composer often wrote four-part cycles and worked on piano links (which was characteristic of that historical period), there was always room for the expression of her individual style. Liza Lehmann was one of the few famous female composers in England. She managed to combine her personal life with a musical career, which was quite unusual for the society of that time.
