A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Panofka, Heinrich

PANOFKA, Heinrich, born Oct. 1, 1807, at Breslau. His early life was a struggle between duty in the shape of the law, and inclination in that of music. Music at length prevailed, his father consented to his wishes, and at the age of 17 he quitted the College of Breslau and put himself under Mayseder for the violin, and Hoffmann for composition, both at Vienna. He remained with them studying hard for three years. In 1827 he gave his first concert. In 1829 he left Vienna for Munich, and thence went to Berlin. In 1831 his father died, and Panofka came into his patrimony. After some lengthened travelling he settled at Paris in 1834 as a violin-player. After a time he turned his attention to singing, and in conjunction with Bordogni founded in 1842 an 'Académie de chant.' In 44 he came to London, and in 47 (Jenny Lind's year) was engaged by Mr. Lumley as one of his assistants at Her Majesty's Theatre. The Revolution of 1848 fixed him here; he published a 'Practical Singing Tutor,' and was widely known as a teacher. In 1852 he returned to Paris, where he is still residing [App. p.738 "He died at Florence, Nov. 18, 1887"]. His principal works are 'L'Art de chanter' (op. 81); 'L'Ecole de Chant,' of which a new edition has very lately appeared; 24 Vocalises progressives (op. 85); Abecédaire vocal (2nd ed.); 12 Vocalises d'artiste (op. 86);—all published by Brandus. He has translated Baillot's 'Nouvelle Méthode' for the violin into German. Panofka has also published many works, violin and piano, and violin and orchestra, but it is not necessary to give these.

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