Kelly, Michael
Kelly, Michael
Kelly, Michael, Irish tenor and composer; b. Dublin, Dec. 25, 1762; d. Margate, Oct. 9, 1826. He studied with Passerini and Rauzzini, then sang in Dublin. He then continued his studies with Fenarole and Aprile in Naples (1779). He sang in Palermo, Livorno, Florence, Bologna, and Venice. He was a member of the Vienna Court Opera (1783–87); a friend of Mozart, he created the roles of Don Curzio and Don Basilio in Le nozze di Figaro (May 1, 1786). In 1787 he appeared for the first time at Drury Lane in London, and sang there until his retirement some 30 years later; also was stage manager at the King’s Theatre, Haymarket (1793–1824). He wrote music for 62 stage pieces and many songs. He also had a music shop (1802–11), and then was active in the wine trade. As to the quality of his compositions and wines, Sheridan quipped that he was “a composer of wines and an importer of music.” T. Hook prepared his amusing and valuable autobiography and publ. it as Reminiscences of Michael Kelly, of the King’s Theatre, and Theatre Royal, Drury Lane (London, 1826; ed. by R. Fiske, London, 1975).
Bibliography
S. Ellis, The Life of M. K., Musician, Actor and Bon Viveur (London, 1930).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire