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Updated: May 2008
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| 19th Century Opera
Celebrate the
Michael W. Balfe Bicentenary Year - 2008! Michael W. Balfe © Composer of "The Bohemian Girl" and 27 other operas
This site covers the life,
times and works of the eminent 19th century composer, Michael W. Balfe.
The Playbill for Balfe's most famous opera, The Bohemian Girl which
premiered at the Balfe Biography (just published)
This
new biography of Dublin born composer, Michael W. Balfe is now available. It was
recently published in Europe and the USA Details are provided
at:
INDEX
to time-line sections for general Balfe website below I. ) The Singer and Composer's Active Years Page No. 1-Section A - Years - 1808-1824 - Early life as a child prodigy in Dublin and London. Page No. 2-Section B - Years - 1825-1834 - Paris, Milan, Venice. Rossini, Bellini, Grisi, Malibran. Page no. 3-Section C - Years - 1835-1840 - With Maria Malibran in Venice. London's new composer. Page No. 4-Section D - Years - 1841-1850 - Paris, London - The Bohemian Girl. Vienna, Dublin.
Page
No. 5-Section E -
Years - 1851-1870 -
St. Petersburg, Vienna, Jenny Lind, Giuseppe
Verdi. II.) The Composer's Personal Life, His Operatic Works, Recordings & Literary References Page No. 6-Section F - Balfe's Personal side - His wife and family. Balfe's death and burial. Page No. 7-Section G - Balfe's memory is honored in London and Dublin. His final opera performed. Page No. 8-Section H - Listing of Balfe's operatic works 1830-1870. Page No. 9-Section I - Listing of recordings of Balfe's music and operas. Page No. 10-Section J - Books and Literary references, including James Joyce. New Balfe Book. Page No. 11-Section K - Great singers who performed Balfe's operas and musical works.
Page No. 12-Section L
- Celebrate in 2008 - Balfe's 200th anniversary - Availability of Scores SEE
BELOW!
Page
No. 13-Final Section M
- Basil Walsh - Author and writer on 19th Century opera. _______________________________ Page No. 1 - SECTION A TIME-LINE: 1808-1824 1.1) Balfe early days in Dublin Michael W. Balfe 'was born on 15 May 1808, at 10 Pitt Street (changed to Balfe Street, in 1917), Dublin, Ireland.
The house where Michael W. Balfe was born in Pitt Street, Dublin. Photo, circa 1880-90s. The family lived at this address until 1818 when they moved a short distance away to 2 Hamilton Row, (now known as Fenian Street), off Cumberland Street, near where the Alexander Hotel is currently located. This area was reasonably fashionable at the time, though not as good as Pitt Street. The Balfe Pitt Street home (shown above) where he was born, and the entire block on which it stood was demolished in the 1960s and replaced by a hotel. Today, there is a plaque commemorating the composers birth-place on the wall at the rear entrance to the hotel, not on Balfe street. The street on which the hotel's main entrance is located is still called Balfe Street. It's just off Grafton Street, not too far from St. Stephen's Green and Trinity College. Balfe was the son of a dancing-school master named M. William Balfe (1782-1823)," who offered classes in Dublin and Wexford. Balfe's mother was Catherine (Ryan) Balfe (1782-1839). Young Balfe demonstrated significant musical abilities from an early age. In Dublin he took violin and music lessons with the well established musician James Barton and composer William (Rourke) Rooke (1794-1847), and with others in Wexford. 1.2) The Child Prodigy performs at the Rotunda Concert Rooms, Dublin
On the death of his father early in January 1823, Balfe left Dublin for London where he took music lessons with Charles Horn (1786-1849) and Horn's father "Carl Frederick Horn (1762-1830). During this time he also participated in selected concerts as a soloist on the violin. His first concert was on March 1823, at Drury Lane when he performed a concerto for violin. Shortly thereafter, Balfe, joined the orchestra at the Drury Lane Theatre, which was then under the direction of fellow Irishman Tom Cooke (1782- 1848). __________________________ Page No. 2 - SECTION B TIME-LINE: 1825-1834 2.1) In Search of a Career In 1825, Balfe, interested in broadening his studies he first went to Paris where he was introduced to the great composer, 'Luigi Cherubini, (1760-1842). He too lessons in composition with Cherubini during this period. Balfe also spent the next few years in Italy studying to be an operatic singer. He returned to Paris in 1827 where Cherubini introduced him to Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868) who took a personal interest in him and his musical talents. 'At Rossini's invitation Balfe made his debut early in 1828 at the Theatre des Italiens as "Figaro" in "Il barbiere di Siviglia," singing opposite 'Henriette Sontag (1806-1854), Giulio Bordogni (1789-1856) and other leading singers. 2.2) The Emerging Singer and Composer - Italy Balfe a baritone, decided to return to Italy late in 1828. In December he performed at a concert in Milan sponsored by the 'Garden Society of Milan. Towards the end of December 1828, 'Balfe went on to Bologna where he became the guest of Rossini's friend, 'Marchese Francesco Sampieri, an important patron of the arts and a composer, whom he had met in Paris. Here he met the young soprano 'Giulia Grisi (1811-1869) at the start of what would become a brilliant career for the soprano in Europe, Russia and briefly America. "These two young vocalists, Balfe aged 21 and Grisi 18 were immediately attracted to each other. They enjoyed each others company and musical talents. Balfe composed a musical cantata for Grisi to perform. This early relationship in 'Italy developed into a life-long friendship. She was the premier soprano in London and Paris for decades. 2.3) Italy - 1829 During this period in Italy, Balfe composed his first and only known Symphony 'and a Cantata which Giulia Grisi and the tenor Francesco Pedrazzi sang. Balfe was also recognized by the prestigious Bologna 'Academy of Music, for his talents. He was made a honorary member of the Academy in the composer category. 'After Bologna, Balfe moved south, to Palermo, in Sicily where he had an operatic engagement and also composed his first opera, I rivale di se stessi at the request of the manager of the Teatro Carolina in Palermo. He subsequently sang in several operas including the part of Valdeburgo in Bellini's opera "La straniera" at the Teatro Carolino in Palermo. "The next several years were spent
as a singer and
a composer of operas. 'By 1833, he had composed three (3) operas which had been produced
at Palermo(1829), Pavia(1831) and Milan (1833). "It was also during this
time (1831) while in Milan that he first met and later married (in Bergamo), Lina
Roser
(18 Balfe and his new wife, Lina
Roser-Balfe were both in Milan area during such historic moments, as the
premiers of Bellini's Norma and La Sonnambula. During the early 1830s Balfe and his wife, also kept up a
busy schedule performing in operas by Bellini, Pacini, Ricci, Donizetti, Rossini and others in places such as, Venice, Milan, Trieste, Bergamo, Mantua, Parma, Piacenza, Turin, Varese, Pavia, Novara,
and no doubt, other places in Italy. 2.4) Maria Malibran In May 1834 Balfe made his debut at La Scala, Milan,
singing opposite his friend, the renowned mezzo-soprano, 'Maria Malibran
(1808-1836),
in Rossini's "Otello." "The performances were so successful that they gave
repeat performances in October of the same year at
La Scala with the same cast. Page No. 3 - SECTION C TIME-LINE: 1835-1840 3. Balfe and Maria Malibran in VeniceBalfe sang again with Maria Malibran this time in Venice at the Teatro La Fenice. This was early in 1835. It was during this time that Sig. Gallo the owner of another theatre the Teatro Emeronittio appealed to Maria Malibran for help since attendance at his Teatro had been greatly affected by the Diva's appearance at La Fenice. In typical Maria Malibran fashion she agree to a special performance of Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia (with Balfe as Figaro) at La Fenice in which Gallo would receive 50% of the evening's receipts. Additionally, she also agreed to sing a performance of Bellini's La Sonnambula (with Balfe at Count Rodolfo) at the Teatro Emeronittio as a benefit for Gallo. To show his appreciation, Gallo renamed his Theatre "Teatro M. F. G. Malibran" (Maria Felicia Garcia Malibran) in recognition of her generosity. This turned out to be a sensational performance, with Malibran receiving over 30 curtain calls. The theatre still retains the Malibran name today, in remembrance of that long ago eventful night in April 1835 when Malibran and Balfe sang together in Bellini's beautiful opera in Venice. Maria Malibran & Balfe in La Sonnambula in Venice La Sonnambula at The Teatro Malibran - April, 1835
The notice
of the special performance of La Sonnambula in
April 1835, in Venice Note: This advance program shows the date as April 7; the actual performance was on April 8, 1835. During this period Malibran recognized Balfe's emerging musical talents as a composer. She called him the "English Rossini." given his musical skills. He in turn wanted to write an opera for her while in Venice, there was talk of Hamlet being the subject matter, however, nothing happened, instead he committed to writing an opera for her at a later date. A promise he fulfilled a year later in London.' 3. 0) Return To LondonBalfe returned to London in May 1835. where he performed at a concert with Lablache, Tamburini, Rubini and Grisi and others, at Vauxhall Gardens. In this esteemed company Balfe elected to sing under his Italian name, "M. Guglielmo Balfe!" 3.1) It was shortly after this period that Balfe completed his first opera for London. His London debut as an operatic composer took place, in October 1835 with the premiere of his highly successful, "The Siege of Rochelle" at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. 3.2) This was the start of Balfe's brilliant career as a composer of operatic works for London. He was 27 years old! 3.3) Maria Malibran premieres Balfe's "The Maid of Artois" London 1836 His initial success was quickly followed by another opera " 'The Maid of Artois " which he composed to fulfill a promise to his good friend, "Maria Malibran" who performed in the premiere on May 27, 1836 at Drury Lane theatre in London. The presence of Malibran created a great financial success'. 'Tragically, the renowned Malibran died the following September age 28, in Manchester as a result of an earlier horse-riding accident.
Maria Malibran who created the Maid of Artois, in London (1836) Also it was probably during this period that Balfe composed the Cantata Sempre pensoso e torbido for Maria Malibran (see below for OperaRara recording details) 3.4) "The Prayer of the Nation"
Balfe possibly wrote this special music for young Queen Victoria sometime after Her Coronation which took place in June 1838. In the visual, Queen Victoria is shown with Prince Albert and some of Her ministers including the Duke of Wellington (third from left) and probably Prime Minster Robert Peel front left. 3.5) "Falstaff " 'In 1838 Balfe composed his first Italian opera written for London', "Falstaff" based on the Shakespeare play, "The Merry Wives of Windsor." The Italian libretto was written by a London based translator of operas for leading composers, S. Manfredo Maggione. "The great Luigi Lablache was in the title role with Grisi, Rubini and Tamburini creating the other principal parts The opera was very successful. This same group of singers had created Bellini's beautiful opera, I Puritani, in Paris three years earlier, in 1835, also with great success. Balfe's Falstaff has not been heard in over 170 years. The Balfe autograph score is available in the British Library, so perhaps an enterprising producer or record company will take up the challenge and add Balfe's remarkable, Falstaff to the repertoire.
Luigi
Lablache, creator of the title role in Balfe's Falstaff 3.6) First Return Visit to Ireland -1838 Balfe first returned to Ireland in 1838, where he sang in operas and in concerts. A public dinner was held at 'Morrison's Hotel in Dawson Street, Dublin in December of that year. This dinner was attended by 100 business and political leaders who paid one golden guinea to attend. Balfe as the guest of honor, made an elegant and a somewhat amusing speech about being a "Dublin Man" also mentioning his absence of sixteen years from his native city. During the course of the evening, Balfe mentioned the fact that on his return to London in mid 1835, he was considered a foreigner and called "an Irish/Italian" no less! Of course he was fluent in the Italian language and had composed operas in Italy, having spent seven years there on his second visit. During the evening, he also sang various numbers for the group including excerpts from his Falstaff. Page No. 4 - SECTION D TIME-LINE: 1841-1850 4.1) The London Theatre Manager Balfe turned theatre manager in London in 1841, fot the purpose of creating a National English Opera in Britain. Queen Victoria supported the venture to create a permanent national operatic organization at the Lyceum Theatre on the Strand. This venture was quite unsuccessful for a variety of reasons not the least of which was the lack of support Balfe received from his fellow composers who were supposed to write new operas for the venture, and didn't. However, additionally Balfe's managerial and financial skills did not measure-up either. He went bankrupt after six months. Disgusted with the entire endeavor he announced from the stage of the Lyceum that he would never venture into Theatre Management again. He never did. It was all reported in the Times newspaper, which created an awkward situation for him. Shortly afterwards he left for Paris, where he gave concerts with the help of Érard the piano manufacturer. He later received a commission to write a new opera, for the Opera Comique. It would be his first opera for Paris. 4.2) The New Operatic Composer in Paris -1843   Balfe's first French opera, Le Puits D'Amour premiered early in 1843 in Paris Balfe went on to compose several other operas for Paris. His success in Paris gave him great international recognition at a level never previously experienced by any British composer. In fact it would take more than a 100 years before another British operatic composer (Benjamin Britten) would reach the level of international acclaim Balfe achieved in 1843. 4.3) A New Opera for London The Bohemian Girl - A Most Successful Work After about a year and a half in Paris Balfe returned to London where he introduced an English version of his successful French opera , under the title of "Geraldine - The Lover's Well" in August 1843.A few months later, his most famous and most lasting opera, "'The Bohemian Girl," was first produced at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on November 27, 1843. Balfe composed most of this work at his home in central London ; although it's quite possible that some of work on the score was initially done in Paris earlier in the year."After the highly successful run of over 100 nights at Drury Lane, performances of 'The Bohemian Girl" were soon mounted in: New York 1844; Dublin 1844, Philadelphia 1844, Vienna (in German) 1846, Sydney 1846, Prague 1847, Stockholm 1849, Berlin 1850, Trieste, Brescia, Verona & Bologna in 1854, Zurich 1854, Amsterdam 1855, Rouen 1862, Gothenburg 1865, Paris 1868/9, Toronto 1874, New Orleans 1876, Mexico 1884 and in Cape Town in 1887, etc., etc. 4.4) The Bohemian Girl - Performed the World Over. For more than 150 years, Balfe's most popular opera, "'The Bohemian Girl," has been performed with remarkable success in the English speaking world of, America, Australia, Britain, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and elsewhere. A CD recording of the opera is available. See recordings section below. 4.5) Vienna, Pest (Budapest), Leipzig, Linz and Stuttgart - Spring 1845Balfe's opera Die Vier Haimonskinder (a translation of another successful Paris (1844) work, Les quatre fils Aymon.) was performed with great acclaim during this period in these cities. It later was performed in Berlin and other cities and towns in the German states and again in Vienna over a period of several years.
4.6) Paris 1845 - Balfe's opera L'etoil de Seville Towards the end of 1845 Balfe returned to Paris to prepare for the premiere of his new opera which was written specially for the Paris Opera. This was a historical moment as it was the first time a British musician had been invited to compose a new opera for this important venue. In the audience on the opening night were France's leading operatic composer, Giacomo Meyerbeer and the great pianist, Frederic Chopin and most of the leading composers of the period. Chopin recorded the event in his writings. Balfe's cast included such distinguished singers as, tenor Italo Gardoni, mezzo-soprano, Rosine Stoltz, soprano Maria Nau, and the baritone Paul Barroilhet. The opera was given 15 performances with considerable success. It was later translated into German for Vienna, however it does not appear to have been performed there. 4.7) London - 1846-1852 - Balfe the Musical Director at the Italian OperaBalfe was appointed the director of Her Majesty's Theatre in London in 1846. It was a position he held for the next seven years until 1852. During that time he introduced several of Verdi's opera to London along with other local operatic premieres.
4.8) Verdi and Jenny Lind in London -1846-47 Balfe was also the principal conductor for the Italian Opera at Her Majesty's theatre, London. He conducted Jenny Lind's (1820-1887) London debut in opera and most of her subsequent performances in that city. Balfe also conducted the London premiere of the young Italian composer, Giuseppe Verdi's (1813-1901), first successful opera, Nabucco.
The famous soprano, Jenny Lind (1849) When Giuseppe Verdi first arrived in London to conduct his new opera, I Masnadieri, with Jenny Lynn and Luigi Lablache, Balfe worked with him at rehearsals. Later when the Italian composer left London after conducting two performances, Balfe took up the baton to finish the run of the Italian composer's new opera. 4.9 "Irish
Famine" Relief Concert 5.0) Balfe at the premiere of his Die Zigeunerin in Vienna In 1846 Balfe went to Vienna to direct and conduct his opera Die Zigeunerin (The Bohemian Girl). The opera once again had incredible success. It went on to be performed there and also in other German speaking cities until the end of the century.
An elegant looking
Michael Balfe, age 38, in Vienna (1846) at the
time of the premiere of Die Zigeunerin ___________________________________________________ 5.1) Jenny Lind Gives a Concert in Balfe's Honor - London, January 1849 On January 29 1849 at Exeter Hall Jenny Lind gave a benefit concert for Balfe to show her appreciation for all the support and help Balfe had given her since her arrival in London two seasons earlier. Balfe in return composed a special song for her, The Lonely Rose, which Lind sang at the concert and at later concerts in London. Balfe conducted the
performance. He included the overtures to The Bohemian Girl and to his
other very successful first French opera, Le Puits d'Amour in the
program. Page No. 5 - SECTION E TIME-LINE: 1851-1870 5. 2) Cantata - Inno Delle Nazioni - (London 1851)In London
in 1851 Balfe composed an extraordinary Cantata titled, Inno Delle Nazioni -
Onore alla Gran Bretagna in
which the nine (9) vocal parts were sung by nine leading females singers each
representing a country!
(See below in Section # 5.7 for full details of various other Balfe Cantatas )Balfe's "Multi-Lingual Opera" - The Bohemian Girl - (English, German, Italian and French) An Italian translation of " 'The Bohemian Girl" called, "La Zingara" was mounted in Trieste in 1854. Performances quickly followed in other Italian cities, Bologna, Bergamo, Brescia, and Verona. Later La Zingara was performed in: London (1856), Dublin(1858), New York (1858) and in Boston and San Francisco. A version in German "Die Zigeunerin" premiered in Vienna, in 1846. It was later heard in Berlin, Frankfurt (Balfe's friend, Jenny Lind attended the Frankfurt performance), Hamburg, Darmstadt, Munich, Stuttgart, Budapest, Leipzig and other cities. In 1862 a four-act French version "La Bohemienne" premiered in Rouen, with the very young (20 years old) future great French composer, Jules Massenet conducting. The star of the evening however, was Celestine Galli-Marie (role of the Gypsy Queen) who a number of years later went on to create Thomas' Mignon (1866), and Bizet's Carmen (1875). A revised version of Balfe's opera reached Paris in 1869.
The success of The Bohemian Girl was unprecedented for opera in the 19th century. The only other work that was close to it in terms of popularity around the world was Verdi's Ernani (1844). 5. 3) The Composer in St. Petersburg, Moscow, Vienna and Trieste'The years 1852-53 saw Balfe travel to Danzig to visit his eldest daughter Louisa (Balfe) Behrens and her family after which he traveled by coach to St. Petersburg in Russia for concerts. He later went on to Moscow for more concerts, after which he returned to Danzig for a rest before going on to Vienna to direct a German version of his opera Keolanthe. In 1854 he went to Trieste to premiere La Zingara . He also returned to Russia in the 1860's.5. 4) New York - The Academy of Music -1854Strangely, 'Balfe never visited America, although there were strong rumors circulating in New York in 1854-5 that the composer was to become the Director of the Academy of Music on 14th Street. However, nothing came of it. Balfe's friend the operatic impresario, 'Max Maretzek wrote extensively about it in his memoirs which were published in 1855. 5.5) The Successful
Composer of 250 Songs, Several Cantatas and at least One Symphony
5.9) The Astounding Michael William Balfe - Summary, The Years, 1835-60 Balfe's output and energy during the years 1835-1860 was astounding. Some years he was actually composing operas for London, Paris and/or Vienna at the same time, or had two of his opera running in London while he was conducting other composer's works there. _________________________________________________ Page No. 6 - SECTION F
BALFE'S
PERSONAL SIDE 'Balfe was married for 39 years to Lina Roser-Balfe. She survived him by 18
years. They
were probably married in Bergamo in 1831. Local reports indicate that the
marriage probably took place in Bergamo between June and September
1831. 6.2) Balfe's Wife - Lina (Magdalena) Roser Balfe (1806-1888) - also an important singer Balfe's wife Lina was born in Budapest (Pest), Hungary of an Austrian father in 1810, and possibly an Austrian mother. Her father, Franz Roser (1779-1830) was working as a musician, theatre manager and composer in Pest at the time. The father had also been a pupil of Mozart when he was a child. He was also a composer of significance in Vienna. Lina a soprano, was an excellent singer, performing in Milan from around 1829 and afterwards in Venice, Bergamo, Parma, Mantua, Turin, Varese and elsewhere in Italy in the 1830s. 6.3) Daughter - Louisa Balfe-Behrend (1832-1869) Balfe's first daughter Louisa ("Gigia"), was born in Italy (probably in Milan) in 1832. In 1850 she married a well established Danzig merchant 28 year old Maximiliam Behrend in London and lived in Danzig and Berlin, before the family eventually moved to England. 'Louisa Behrend-Balfe died in London in 1869. 'There were eight children from the Louisa Balfe, Max Behrend marriage. Descendants exists today. 6.4) Son - Michael W. Balfe Jr. (1836(?) -1915) Balfe's son who was born in London circa 1836 (?), was not successful in his efforts to follow in his father's footsteps as a composer. He was married in London to a Nora McGlin, a Builder's daughter, and they had a daughter, Maud Lina. He later spent time in New York where he went with his wife and young daughter. His wife died and he remarried. Their family grew, they had another daughter and two sons in New York. He died in London at an Infirmary in 1915 aged 79. 6.5) Daughter - Victoire Balfe-de Frias(1837-1871)
(Today, descendants of Michael W. Balfe and his wife Lina live on in Europe and possibly also in the United States. There are more than twenty great, great grand children living).
Balfe Dies at his Home, Rowney Abbey, Ware, Herts. (outside London) Michael W. Balfe 1808-1870 Page No. 7 - SECTION G BALFE'S MEMORY IS HONORED 7.1) The Composer Remembered in London & Dublin Today, a large marble statue of Balfe stands on a pedestal in the center of the Rotunda (entrance foyer) to the 'Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London, (see below), the very same theatre where Balfe experienced so much success with his operas, during the nineteenth-century. The statue was placed there in 1874. In April 1879 a stained glass window was erected in his honor at St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin and a plaque honoring him was also installed at Westminster Abbey, London in October 1882.
 
 
Balfe Statue at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London. Erected in 1874 Balfe's close friend, the famed Dublin born playwright, Dion Boucicault (1820-1890), initiated the action which resulted in the statue being erected at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London. The statue was placed in the theatre foyer in September 1874, with a formal dedication. 7.2 Balfe's Final Opera Balfe had nearly completed his final opera, The Knight of the Leopard - based on Sir Walter Scott's work, "The Talisman", in 1870 when he died. 'His friend Michael Costa finalized the work.
It was given an Italian libretto (Zaffira) and title and first performed as Il Talismano
in London in 1874. It had a stellar cast in soprano Christine Nilsson, and tenor
Italo Campanini. Costa conducted it. Page No. 8 - SECTION H Balfe's Works 8. 1) His Operatic Compositions (For recordings of operas * or excerpts ** see below)
+Completed by Michael Costa and performed after Balfe's death. (*See details of recordings below) ++Play with music. ____________________________________________ Page No. 9 - SECTION I Recordings of Balfe's Music 9.1) Selected Recordings of Balfe's Music
Page No. 10 - section J Books and Literary References 10.1) Books, Articles & Literary References to His Music  
NEW Biography: Michael W. Balfe A new biography "Michael
W. Balfe: A Unique Victorian Composer" by Basil Walsh has been published
in Europe and the USA for the composer's bicentenary year (2008), by Irish Academic
Press, Dublin, in association with the Arts Council of Ireland.
10.2 Trieste - James Joyce and Balfe "Trieste, I |