Lectures

Among the topics that she covers are;

The musical history of the Rothschild family.

Charlotte discovered an incredible little musical autograph book that was started by a previous Charlotte in 1828. She invited composers such as Rossini, Mendelssohn, Meyerbeer, Chopin and others who were either performers in Rothschild houses, or teachers and friends of the family to write a song or piano piece in this Livre d'Or. The book was passed down through the generations. After many years of research and with the help of letters in the family Archive, this musically illustrated talk sheds a light on the Soirées or parties held in the drawing rooms of the various grand houses in Europe during the 19th Century.

Aspects of Rothschild history

Covering the founding of the dynasty. How their business developed from being coin traders through dealing in gold, investing in railways, diamonds and minerals to present day banking. What their role was in Europe during the Napoleonic Wars and the story of the purchase of the Suez Canal.

Rothschilds and classic motor cars

The Rothschilds demonstrated the same passion for excellence and individuality in their cars as they did in their businesses, houses and collections. Charlotte’s grandfather Lionel, was an early pioneer of motoring; whilst at Trinity College, Cambridge, Lionel was summoned for “driving a motor car at a greater speed than 12 mph” and fined the sum of £1.

Rothschilds and Sport

The family’s involvement and interest in sport has been wide and varied, covering the world of “field sport” such as hunting, shooting and fishing as well as competitive sport such as racing motor cars or boats, football, tennis, cricket, golf, polo and horse-racing.

In 1894 Nathaniel von Rothschild, son of the founder of the Austrian branch of the family, introduced football into Austria. He had a very large garden, staffed mainly with English gardeners. One of the gardeners' sons returning from England where he had learnt the game, gained Nathaniel’s support for a team as a means of providing recreation for the many English estate staff. Even today the “First Football Club” in Vienna still play in the Rothschild colours of blue and yellow and are very proud of their heritage.

Rothschilds and wine

The Rothschild name has been associated with the world’s greatest wines for a long time. The spirit of innovation that characterises the family’s financial enterprises is evident equally in their winemaking, from the grands crus of Château Mouton Rothschild and Château Lafite, to the groundbreaking ventures in the USA and South America.

Rothschilds and Nature

Walter Rothschild, born in 1868, was a passionate zoo-ologist and became one of the most important collector of specimens of the late 19th, early 20th Centuries, housing his huge collection of stuffed animals in Tring in what is now part of the Natural History Museum. He didn't only have stuffed or mounted displays of animals, he also had live ones including fallow deer, kangaroos, emus, cassowaries and giant tortoises. In 1898 he bought a Galapagos tortoise called "Rotumah" who was said to be 150 years old and the largest in the world. He even used to ride on it!

These examples are just a taste of some of the stories about the family and there are many more.