About Richard Addinsell
Richard Stewart Addinsell (13 January 1904 – 14 November 1977) was an English composer, known early in his career for his music for the theatre in collaboration with Clemence Dane, later for his film music – including his best-known piece, the Warsaw Concerto, composed for the 1941 Dangerous Moonlight – and subsequently for his musical collaboration with the lyricist and performer Joyce Grenfell. == Life and career == === Early years === Richard Addinsell was born in Woburn Square, London, on 13 January 1904, the younger son of William Arthur Addinsell, who was a chartered accountant, and his wife, Annie Beatrice née Richards. Addinsell was educated at home before attending Hertford College, Oxford, to study law but going down after 18 months. He became interested in music as an alternative career. In 1925 he enrolled at the Royal College of Music (RCM) but lasted only two terms before leaving, again without obtaining any formal qualification. While still a student at the RCM, Addinsell (billed as Dick, rather than Richard) was contributing the music for a revue, The Charlot Show of 1926, with Noel Gay. A revue for Fred Karno followed in 1927, again with Gay, In 1928 Addinsell first collaborated with the author Clemence Dane. The work was Adam's Opera, described by the two collaborators as "a tragic pantomime, set to music and written in nursery rhyme". It was presented at The Old Vic in December 1928. The critics were equivocal about Dane's text, but Addinsell's music was described by several as "catchy", and the theatrical newspaper The Era called it "By far the best part of the entertainment": In 1929 Addinsell completed his informal education by touring Europe to visit major theatrical and musical centres such as Berlin and Vienna.
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