Halle, Sir Charles (1819-1895), was a German-born English conductor and pianist. He founded the Halle Orchestra in Manchester, England, which gave its first concert in 1858. Halle conducted the orchestra and was often piano soloist until his death. The orchestra still performs today. Halle also was influential in founding the Royal Manchester College of Music. In 1893, he became the college’s first principal.
Halle was born on April 11, 1819, in Hagen, Germany, and was named Carl Halle. He added an accent to the e in his last name as an adult. Halle was a child prodigy, giving a piano recital at the age of 9 and conducting an orchestra at the age of 11. Halle settled in Paris in 1836, where he became friends with the composers Richard Wagner of Germany, Hector Berlioz of France, Franz Liszt of Hungary, and Frédéric Chopin of Poland. In 1848, Halle made his home in England. He was knighted in 1888. Halle died on Oct. 25, 1895.
