Adelina de Lara OBE born Lottie Adelina Preston 23.1.1872 in Cumbria, England - died 25.11.1961 Woking, Surrey, England
Daughter of George Mathew Tilbury who changed his name to Preston, Adelina in turn discarded Preston and adopted the name of her maternal grandfather Count Laurent de Lara. Her first cousin was Landon Ronald, their mothers were sisters. In 1896 she married Thomas Johnson Shipwright, they subsequently had two sons *.
Her initial studies were with Fanny Davies and later at The Hoch Conservatory, Frankfurt 1886-91 under Ivan Knorr for theory and Clara Schumann for piano. Her first appearance at St.James's Hall, London was in 1891, She played the Schuman piano concerto with the Halle Orchestra in 1897. For most of her life she promoted and performed the works of Robert Schumann above all others. On her 82 birthday she she gave a televised recital. During both wars she organised War Fund concerts. She was vice president of The Society of Women Musicians.
In later life she became involved with animal charities, particularly with the RSPCA
Orchestral
Piano Concerto No.1 pub. by Stainer & Bell
Piano Concerto No.2
Concerto for strings 1938
'In the Forest' Daybreak, The Storm King rides through the forest, Glory of the Bluebells (noon), As the sun sets, The March of the Gnomes (moonlight) for string orchestra 1949 pub. by Stainer & Bell
Symphonic Dance Fantasy for piano and strings - prelude, dawn and the dance.
Idyll for tenor and orchestra
Piano
A Children's party pub. by J B Cramer & Co.
Nocturne 1896 pub. by Stanley Lucas & Co.
Six small pieces for Christmas 1913 pub. by J B Cramer & Co.
Suite 'In the Forest' - later rewritten for strings
Valse Joyeuse 1904 pub. by Chappell & Co.
Song
Rose of the World (5 songs) 'Her Garden Glows', The Birds at their Matins', Love's Elysium', 'Now though art Gone', 'The Splendour of loves dream'. words by Mrs T Kelly 1907 pub. by Enoch & Co.
The Red Rose of June. words by W B Baldry 1912 pub. by Leonard & Co.
Red lips, farewell words by F E Weatherly 1913 pub. by J B Cramer & Co.
Night and day words by F G Bowles1911 pub. by Ascherberg, Hopwood & Crew.
Love's waking words by E Clifford 1907 pub. by Enoch & Sons.
Love's dream words by W B Baldry1912 pub. by J Ousley Music Co.
Light of my heart words by F A Joseph pub. by Enoch & Sons.
In the light of your eyes words by F E Weatherly pub. by J B Cramer & Co.
Fight on, brave sons words by F A Joseph1914 pub. by J B Cramer & Co.
Song of two lives - song cycle: 1.There was a song, 2. Into my life, 3. Through life there runs a chain, 4. Across the void. words for all by H Simpson 1908 pub. by Enoch & Sons.
Look up from the darkness, voice with organ or harmonium words by E Lockton1916 pub. by Enoch & Sons
Dramatic scena - Song of life and death 1914
Her memoirs 'Finale', pub. 1955, are annoying, as there are no dates given, there is no index nor a list of her compositions.
* Alan Thomas Kingston Shipwrignt 10.5.1897-4.1.1980
Denis Ewart Bernard Kingston Shipwright 20.5.1898- 13.9.1984
Did she not also write a Symphony? Do we know the whereabouts of any of her MSS?