Lady Hallé

A cabinet card portrait of the violinist Madame Norman-Neruda (1839-1911), from 1888 known as Lady Hallé.

Born Wilhelmina Neruda in 1839, the daughter of Ludwig Neruda, she came from a family long famous for musical talent. Her first husband was Ludwig Norman, a Swedish musician. After his death, she remarried, in 1888, the famous composer and conductor Charles Hallé (1819-1895). When he was knighted later the same year, she became Lady Hallé.

From 1864 onwards she one of the leading solo violinists of the time. Lady Hallé was constantly associated with her second husband on the concert stage until his death in 1895. In 1896 a public subscription was organized on her behalf, under royal patronage. In 1901 Queen Alexandra granted her the title ‘Violinist to the Queen.’ She continued to appear occasionally in public, notably in 1907 when she played at the memorial concert for Josef Joachim.

A fine classical player and artist, frequently associated with Joachim, Lady Hallé was the first female violinist to be compared favourably with her male contemporaries.

Photographed by Alexander Bassano of 25 Old Bond Street, London.