Description:Havergal Brian was born in Dresden in 1876. He learned to play the violin, cello and piano at an early age. He later paid for lessons by playing the organ at local churches.
He began his career as a composer at the age of eleven. His adaptation of Shakespeare’s 'Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day' provided him with his first major success. This was followed in 1907 with an appearance at a promenade concert with Sir Henry Wood.
Brian fell into obscurity until 1966, when his Gothic Symphony was conducted by Sir Adrian Boult at the Royal Albert Hall. He died in 1972.