Opera Scotland

Eugène Goossens I Suggest updates

Born Bruges, 25 February 1845.

Died Liverpool, 30 December 1906.

Belgian conductor, naturalised British.

Goossens trained as a violinist, and moved to Britain in 1873, eventually joining the opera orchestra at Covent Garden. His first opportunity to conduct came in Kate Santley's operetta season, principally of works by Offenbach. After joining D'Oyly Carte's organisation in 1878, he conducted early performances of HMS Pinafore at the Opera-Comique.  He then spent a couple of seasons on tour with Emily Soldene's company, where the repertoire included Carmen.

In August 1882 he joined Carl Rosa as second conductor, becoming musical director on the founder's death in 1889.  With this company he conducted the first performance in English of Tannhäuser (1882) and his early repertoire also included La Dame Blanche, Faust and Lucrezia Borgia.  In 1892 he conducted the command performance of La Fille du Régiment before Queen Victoria at Balmoral.