George Smart

Though Smart was an English gentleman of great musical skill he was not and is not known for his compositional forte. He was a leading director of music who was an accomplished keyboard player both on the organ and the harpsichord. His collections of music, notes, and programs adds a plethora of information to the annals of musicography. As a conductor, Smart was respected and talented though he did not actually conduct from the podium; Smart directed from an organ, piano or harpsichord. He was in great demand as can be ascertained from the many engagements which he led including festivals at Liverpool, Cambridge, Dublin, Norwich, Newcastle upon Tyne, London and Bath. He was also well traveled on the continent and met Beethoven, Weber, <a href="spotify:artist:656RXuyw7CE0dtjdPgjJV6">Haydn</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:6MF58APd3YV72Ln2eVg710">Mendelssohn</a> on different occasions. Smart conducted the premiere performance of Beethoven's "Ninth Symphony" as well as <a href="spotify:artist:6MF58APd3YV72Ln2eVg710">Mendelssohn's</a> oratorio "St. Paul." Students from all walks wanted to study voice with him as he had learned the proper manner in which to perform the arias of <a href="spotify:artist:1QL7yTHrdahRMpvNtn6rI2">Handel</a>. Voice students of Smart included Jenny Lind and Henriette Sontag. ~ Keith Johnson, Rovi