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Reminiscences of Michael Kelly, of the King's Theatre, and Theatre Royal Drury Lane Michael Kelly

Reminiscences of Michael Kelly, of the King's Theatre, and Theatre Royal Drury Lane By Michael Kelly

Reminiscences of Michael Kelly, of the King's Theatre, and Theatre Royal Drury Lane by Michael Kelly


Summary

Michael Kelly (1762-1826) was an Irish singer and composer who studied music in Italy and performed all over Europe. He later joined London's Theatre Royal as both performer and composer. Volume 1 of his 1826 autobiography is a charming and event-filled account of his early life and musical training.

Reminiscences of Michael Kelly, of the King's Theatre, and Theatre Royal Drury Lane Summary

Reminiscences of Michael Kelly, of the King's Theatre, and Theatre Royal Drury Lane: Including a Period of Nearly Half a Century by Michael Kelly

Michael Kelly (1762-1826) was an Irish singer and composer who studied music in a Naples conservatory before touring Europe and performing for royalty. His voyage to Italy began with a brush with pirates, one of whom was a childhood acquaintance. Kelly also found himself stranded penniless in Venice, spent a night in prison after a fist fight at the theatre, and had a narrow escape from revolutionary France. He is probably best remembered for creating the roles of Don Basilio and Don Curzio in the first performance, in 1786, of Le Nozze di Figaro, of which he describes the rehearsal period and reception. He later joined London's Theatre Royal as both a performer and composer and opened a music shop, which went bankrupt. These memoirs, published in 1826, provide rich first hand insights into a key period in theatre history. Volume 1 covers Kelly's early life and musical training.

Table of Contents

1. The author's birth and parentage; 2. Departure of the author for Naples; 3. Visits to Baja, Posilipo, the Grotta del Cane, and the Capo del Monte; 4. Interview with the King and Queen of Naples; 5. Kelly's visit to Rome, with Mr. Stewart and family; 6. Return of the author to Naples; 7. Arrival of the author in the Bay of Leghorn; 8. Florence and its vicinity; 9. Arrival at Venice, where the author, disappointed of his engagement, was left friendless and pennyless; 10. Departure of the author, and Signor and Signora Benini, from Venice for Germany; 11. Procession of the Doge to St. Marc's in passion-week; 12. Introduction of the author to the Marquess and Marchioness Bevi Acqua; 13. Grand Theatre at Parma; 14. Carnival at Vienna; 15. Visit to the great Haydn, at Eisenstadt; 16. His Royal Highness the Duke of York at Vienna; 17. Palace at Luxemburgh; 18. First performance of the Nozze di Figaro; 19. The author entreats leave of the Emperor to go to England; 20. A German journey; 21. Italian opera at Stutgard; 22. Faubourg St. Germains; 23. Jack Johnstone and Mrs. Billington, in Love in a Village; 24. Fine taste of his late Majesty, in a suggestion as to the manner of performing the chorus, 'Life up your heads'; 25. Introduction to Tate Wilkinson; 26. Shakespeare's jubilee; 27. First year of George Colman the Younger's management at the Haymarket; 28. Mrs. Siddon at Calais.

Additional information

NLS9781108038713
9781108038713
1108038719
Reminiscences of Michael Kelly, of the King's Theatre, and Theatre Royal Drury Lane: Including a Period of Nearly Half a Century by Michael Kelly
New
Paperback
Cambridge University Press
2011-10-20
376
N/A
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