A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Lazarus, Henry

LAZARUS, Henry, a native of London, commenced the study of the clarinet when a boy under Blizard, bandmaster of the Royal Military Asylum, Chelsea, and continued it under Charles Godfrey, sen., bandmaster of the Coldstream Guards. After fulfilling engagements in various theatrical and other orchestras he was, in 1838, appointed as second to Willman at the Sacred Harmonic Society. On the death of Willman in 1840 Lazarus succeeded him as principal clarinet at the Opera and all the principal concerts, festivals, etc. in London and the provinces, a position he has since retained with great and ever-increasing reputation. In both orchestral and solo playing the beauty and richness of his tone, his excellent phrasing, and his neat and expressive execution, are alike admired. He attributes his present high reputation mainly to the excellent advice he has during his career received from Sir Michael Costa. He has been a professor of his instrument at the Royal Academy of Music since 1854, and at the Military School of Music, Kneller Hall, near Hounslow, since 1858. [App. p.698 "Add date of birth, 1815. (Died March, 1895.)"]

[ W. H. H. ]