Manns, Sir August (Friedrich)
Manns, Sir August (Friedrich)
Manns, Sir August (Friedrich), prominent German-born English conductor; b. Stolzenberg, near Stetting, March 12, 1825; d. London, March 1, 1907. He learned to play the violin, clarinet, and flute in his youth. After playing in Danzig’s regimental band and theater orch. (1845–48), he was 1st violinist in Gungl’s orch. in Berlin (1848–49). He conducted at Kroll’s Garden (1849–51) before serving as a regimental bandmaster in Königsberg and Cologne (1851–54). In 1854 he went to London as asst. conductor of the Crystal Palace band, and in 1855 he became its conductor and proceeded to enlarge it to symphonic proportions. In 1856 he founded the Saturday Concerts at the Crystal Palace, which became famous. He remained their conductor until 1901, and during his long tenure conducted the first British performances of many works. He also conducted the orch. concerts of the Glasgow Choral Union (1879–87) and 6 Triennial Handel Festivals (1883–1900). In 1894 he became a naturalized British subject and in 1903 he was knighted.
Bibliography
H. Wyndham, A. M. and the Saturday Concerts (London, 1909).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire