Ronald, Sir Landon (real name, Landon Ronald Russell)
Ronald, Sir Landon (real name, Landon Ronald Russell)
Ronald, Sir Landon (real name, Landon Ronald Russell ), English pianist, conductor, and composer, son of Henry Russell and brother of Henry Russell; b. London, June 7, 1873; d. there, Aug. 14, 1938. He entered the Royal Coll. of Music in London, where he studied composition with Parry and also attended the classes of Stanford and Parratt. He first embarked on a concert career as a pianist, but soon turned to conducting light opera and summer sym. concerts; was conductor of the New Sym. Orch. of London (1909–14) and of the Scottish Orch. in Glasgow (1916–20). He served as principal of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London (1910–38). He was knighted in 1922. He composed an operetta, A Capital Joke; a ballet, Britannia’s Realm (1902; for the coronation of King Edward VII); and a scenic spectacle, Entente cordiale (1904; to celebrate the triple alliance of Russia, France, and England); about 300 songs. He publ. 2 autobiographical books: Variations on a Personal Theme (London, 1922) and Myself and Others (London, 1931).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire