Sir Charles Hallé lived the life of a quintissential Victorian hero, the self-made man of humble origins who transcended his immigrant status and transformed British music making with the foundation of Briain's first professional orchestra, Manchester's world famous Hallé. In this rich account of Hallé's life, his great grandson paints a vivid picture of this musical visionary and family man, from his early days in Germany and Paris, through his rise to prominence in British music, and his frequent encounters with royalty and some of the greatest composers and musicians of the 19th century.