English Composer, Conductor, and Orchestrator. A writer of theatrical music and comic operas, he is best remembered for his opera "Dorothy" (1886) that would become the longest-running piece of musical theater in England during the 19th century. The son of a French language professor, he received his education at the Hackney Grammar School in his hometown and became a chorister at Chapel Royale, St. James Palace, in London, England. He studied music and in 1862 he served as organist at All Saints' Church in Blackheath in London and became conductor of the Belfast Philharmonic Society. In 1866 he became organist and director of the Ulster Concert Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland and two years later he returned to London to become organist at St. Alban' in Holborn. In December 1877 he became musical director of the D'Oyly Carte Company at the Opera Comique in London. The following year, he travelled to the US with the famed opera composers W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan to conduct "The Pirates of Penzance" and "H.M.S. Pinafore" with Carte's touring company, returning to London in 1880. He returned to the US in 1881 and directed the touring productions of "Billee Taylor" (1882), "Les Manteaux Noirs" (1882), "Rip Van Winkle" (1882), and "Iolanthe" (1882 to 1883). His other notable works include "Dora's Dream" (1873), "Topsyturveydom" (1874). "The Spectre Knight" (1878), "After All!" (1878), "In the Sulks" (1880), "The Carp" (1886), "Mrs. Jarramie's Genie" (1888), "Doris" (1889), and "The Mountebanks" (1892, completed after his death). He suffered from ill health throughout most of his life and died at his home at the age of 47.
English Composer, Conductor, and Orchestrator. A writer of theatrical music and comic operas, he is best remembered for his opera "Dorothy" (1886) that would become the longest-running piece of musical theater in England during the 19th century. The son of a French language professor, he received his education at the Hackney Grammar School in his hometown and became a chorister at Chapel Royale, St. James Palace, in London, England. He studied music and in 1862 he served as organist at All Saints' Church in Blackheath in London and became conductor of the Belfast Philharmonic Society. In 1866 he became organist and director of the Ulster Concert Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland and two years later he returned to London to become organist at St. Alban' in Holborn. In December 1877 he became musical director of the D'Oyly Carte Company at the Opera Comique in London. The following year, he travelled to the US with the famed opera composers W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan to conduct "The Pirates of Penzance" and "H.M.S. Pinafore" with Carte's touring company, returning to London in 1880. He returned to the US in 1881 and directed the touring productions of "Billee Taylor" (1882), "Les Manteaux Noirs" (1882), "Rip Van Winkle" (1882), and "Iolanthe" (1882 to 1883). His other notable works include "Dora's Dream" (1873), "Topsyturveydom" (1874). "The Spectre Knight" (1878), "After All!" (1878), "In the Sulks" (1880), "The Carp" (1886), "Mrs. Jarramie's Genie" (1888), "Doris" (1889), and "The Mountebanks" (1892, completed after his death). He suffered from ill health throughout most of his life and died at his home at the age of 47.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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