Victorian English Opera

This website is devoted to English opera, i.e. opera with an original English libretto, written during the Victorian Era and which aspired to rival continental, most particularly Italian, opera of the day.

The era can be divided into two. The first part covers 1834-1866, whose chief protagonist was Michael William Balfe but in which other composers, such as John Barnett, Julius Benedict, Edward Loder, George Alexander Macfarren and William Vincent Wallace, also played a significant part. Many of their operas enjoyed initial success but few managed to hold the stage until the 20th century and even they had essentially disappeared within the first few decades. The second part, which stretched from 1876 until 1901, was a rather more disparate effort, often under the aegis of the Carl Rosa Company, with, once again, some initial success but ultimately failure to gain a hold in the repertoire.

NEWS

The 2012 Wexford Festival will be marking the bi-centenary of the birth of William Vincent Wallace with a concert of his songs, see here.

Also timed for the bi-centenary is a new biography by Dr. Andrew Lamb entitled William Vincent Wallace (Fullers Wood Press, 2012). See here for details of availability.

Wallace, the son of a military bandmaster, showed his entrepreneurial flair at a young age and though having a limited formal musical education became a lead violinist in Dublin and London theatre orchestras. He emigrated to Australia, travelled the Americas and ended up an American citizen before ending his days in France. The biography reveals fascinating facts about this colourful composer that have been overlooked or distorted by earlier biographers and a much clearer picture of the genesis of Wallace's operas is given.

Naxos (Naxos 8.660308-09) have also re released their recording of Maritana, Wallace's best known work.

Victorian Opera Northwest's recording of Macfarren's Robin Hood has been released on Naxos 8.660306-07. Further details may also be found here.

Guild (www.guildmusic.com) have released a CD of Balfe songs on GMCD 7359 entitled Michael William Balfe 1808-1870 - Songs and Ballads Rediscovered. They are sung by Sally Silver with Richard Bonynge on the piano. An excerpt from "The green trees whispered", one of seven Longfellow poems that Balfe set, can be found here. Other than one song, they are a completely different selection than that recorded by Victorian Opera Northwest on WRW 204-2.

Any correspondence should be addressed to victorianenglishopera@gmail.com

� Victorian English Opera, 2011 - 2012