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Richard Stewart AddinsellBritish composer
Date of Birth: 13.01.1904
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
Biography of Richard Stewart Addinsell
Richard Stewart Addinsell was a British composer and specialist in film music. He is best known for his piano concerto, the 'Warsaw Concerto', which was written specifically for the 1941 film 'Dangerous Moonlight'.
Early Life and Education
Richard Addinsell was born into the family of William Arthur Addinsell, an inspector accountant, and his wife Annie Beatrice Richards. He was educated at home under the close supervision of his loving mother. In 1922, Addinsell went to study law at Hertford College, Oxford. However, after only 18 months, he dropped out as he was more drawn to music. In the autumn of 1925, Addinsell enrolled at the Royal College of Music. Unfortunately, he only studied there for two semesters and did not obtain a diploma. Nevertheless, his dismissal did not greatly upset him as he had already established a range of valuable connections. He worked closely with Noel Gay and collaborated on the 'André Charlot Revue'. In 1927, Addinsell moved to the legendary Old Vic theatre with Clemence Dane.
Music Career and Achievements
In 1929, Addinsell embarked on a tour across Europe visiting major theatrical and musical centers in Berlin and Vienna. This experience proved to be more valuable than a few years in college. In 1932, together with Dane, Addinsell composed the music for a Broadway production of 'Alice in Wonderland' by Eva Le Gallienne, with Josephine Hutchinson in the lead role. The production returned to the stage in 1947, this time with Bambi Linn in the lead role.
Richard Addinsell was widely known not only as a musician but also as a socialite. Rumors of his Christmas parties spread throughout Britain. Among his friends were prominent figures in the British show business and several individuals close to the royal family. In 1942, Addinsell joined forces with Joyce Grenfell and together they launched a series of West End productions and one-woman shows.
Addinsell's most famous composition, the 'Warsaw Concerto', was written for the film 'Dangerous Moonlight' in 1941. The creators of the film wanted something in the style of Rachmaninoff, but they could not secure his participation. However, the replacement they found proved to be equally remarkable. The original recording of the concerto was conducted by Roy Douglas and it was recorded over 100 times, selling more than 3 million copies.
In the 1960s, Addinsell withdrew from public life and gradually faded into obscurity, even severing ties with his closest friends. For many years, he collaborated with the fashion designer Victor Stiebel. In 1999, it was revealed that royalties from the 'Warsaw Concerto' had been mistakenly paid to the parents of writer Jilly Cooper. After this fact became public, rumors spread that Addinsell had given the money to the Cooper family as a thank you for keeping his extremely close relationship with Stiebel a secret.
Richard Stewart Addinsell passed away in Brighton, Sussex, on November 14, 1977.
