Michael Kelly (tenor)

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Michael Kelly (born 1762 – died October 9 1826) was an Irish actor, singer (tenor) and composer.

The son of a Dublin wine-merchant and dancingmaster, he had a musical education at home and in Italy, and for four years from 1783 was engaged to sing at the Court Theatre at Vienna, where he became a friend of Mozart. In 1786 he sang the roles of Don Basilio and Don Curzio in the first performance of Le nozze di Figaro.

Appearing in London, at Drury Lane in 1787, he had a great success, and thenceforth was the principal English tenor at that theatre. In 1793 he became acting-manager of the Kings Theatre, and he was in great request at concerts.

Kelly also made his mark as a composer of music for the stage. According to Russell A. Peck (John Hall Deane Professor of English at the University of Rochester), "The first Cinderella Pantomime in England was the 1804 production at Drury Lane", and the music was by Michael Kelly.

His relationship with Anna Maria Crouch, whom he shared for a time with the Prince of Wales, added to his notoriety. Kelly wrote a number of songs (including The Woodpecker), and the music for many dramatic pieces, which have now fallen into oblivion.

In 1826 he published his entertaining Reminiscences, written with the assistance of Theodore Hook. He combined his professional work with conducting a music-shop and a wine-shop, but with disastrous financial results. He died at Margate, aged 64.

References

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Last updated on Sunday March 09, 2008 at 21:07:56 PDT (GMT -0700)
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