Henri Verbrugghen papers and photographs, with additional papers collected by the Verbrugghen family and Jenny Cullen, 1875-2003

fonds

1875-2003

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Clippings, Photographs, Ephemera, Manuscript Notated Music, Posters

448224

1.6 metres of textual material, clippings, ephemera and 353 photographs (7 boxes, 3 outsize boxes, 1 outsize folder)

Henri Adrien Marie Verbrugghen, violinist, conductor and educator, was born in Brussels, Belgium, on 1 August 1873, the only son of Henri Joseph Verbrugghen, textile manufacturer, and his wife Elisa. He studied violin under Ysaye at the Royal Conservatoire in Brussels, graduating with first prize in 1889. In 1893, he went to Glasgow, Scotland, to play first violin in the Scottish Orchestra under George Henschel. He successfully auditioned for the Lamoureux Orchestra in Paris, playing First Violin in 1894-95. While in Paris, he was engaged as concertmaster at Llandudno in North Wales as well as assistant conductor. When Wilhelm Kes succeeded Henschel in Glasgow, Verbrugghen played again in the Scottish Orchestra.

He married the singer Alice Beaumont of London in 1898. For four years, he was conductor-in-chief at Colwyn Bay in Wales. He also held the position of Professor of Violin at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin.

In 1903 Verbrugghen accepted the position of concertmaster and assistant conductor for the summer Promenade season of the London Queen’s Hall Orchestra under (Sir) Henry J. Wood. During the winter of 1903-4 he was concertmaster and assistant conductor of the Scottish Orchestra of Glasgow under (Sir) Frederic Cowen. In 1904 he was appointed professor of violin, chamber music, orchestra and opera at the Glasgow Athenaeum. For four seasons, he directed operatic productions at this institution.

In 1907 Verbrugghen gave the English premiere of the Sibelius Violin Concerto as soloist. In 1911 he took over from Dr Henry Coward as conductor of the Glasgow Choral Union. He also conducted two orchestral concerts in St Petersburg in 1912. In 1914, Verbrugghen organised and directed a five-day Beethoven Festival with the London Symphony Orchestra and the Leeds Choir. The following year he organised a six-day Bach-Beethoven-Brahms Festival. Both Festivals were outstanding successes. It was following the 1915 Festival that Verbrugghen was invited to found a Conservatorium in Sydney, New South Wales. Chosen from 173 applicants, Verbrugghen accepted the position of foundation director and sailed for Australia in July 1915.

In February 1916, the New South Wales State Conservatorium of Music opened. Verbrugghen succeeded in having the other three members of his string quartet (which he had founded in Scotland in 1903) engaged as professors: Jenny Cullen, James Messeas and David Nichols. This enabled him to give numerous chamber music concerts in Sydney, with introductory talks by Verbrugghen. He also founded an orchestra and choir which gave regular concerts of repertoire seldom heard by Australian audiences. The New South Wales State Orchestra rapidly acquired an outstanding reputation, undertaking tours to other Australian states and New Zealand. In 1921 the government decided to withdraw its financial support unless substantial funds were guaranteed by public subscription.

In 1922, Verbrugghen resolved to take extended leave. While in America, he was asked to share the guest conducting of the Minneapolis Symphony for the 1922-23 season. This resulted in his being offered a contract for three years as permanent conductor which he accepted, leading to his formal resignation from his Sydney position in late 1922. The other members of his string quartet joined him in Minneapolis. Verbrugghen remained at the head of the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra until 1931, when he collapsed at a rehearsal from a cerebral haemorrhage. In 1932 he was offered the position of Chairman of the Music Faculty at Carleton College, Minnesota which he accepted.

He died on 12 November 1934, survived by his wife, three sons (Adrien, Philippe, Marcel) and a daughter (Gabrielle). The Verbrugghen Hall at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music commemorates his name.

Reference:
Verbrugghen, Henri Adrien Marie (1873-1934), Australian Dictionary of Biography Online. http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/ (accessed June 23, 2010)

SERIES 01
Henri Verbrugghen correspondence and other personal papers, 1886-1934

SERIES 02
Henri Verbrugghen lecture notes and other writings, ca.1915-1933

SERIES 03
Henri Verbrugghen concert programs collected, 1905-1934

SERIES 04
Henri Verbrugghen newscuttings and other published items collected, 1883-1933

SERIES 05
Henri Verbrugghen photographs, 1875-1934

SERIES 06
Verbrugghen family and Jenny Cullen papers, 1907-2003