The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-10-22
OBITUARY.
nTIohaol william BaIfe.

A cable telegram from London announces
the death, at the age of go, of Michael Balfe,
the genial, fertile, and popular melodist whose
triumphs are easily traced in The Bohemian
Girl, The Rose of CASTLE, Satenella, The
Siege of Rochelle The Maid of ArtotS,
and several other compositions, all
of the highest order. He was born in
Dublin, Ireland, May Is, 1903. At an early age
he evinced prediction for music, and first
attracted the notice of a Mr.. Meadows, band
master of O regiment then stationed in Wex-
ford. Under the superintendent of this worthy
man young Balfe was in a short time enabled to
perform airs on the violin with so much taste
and such surprising execution, that concer to
accomplished on that difficult instrument at the
age of eight gained him the hatterng
title of 'The little fiddler" This and other
evidences of his sons musical genius so far
delighted his father that the young as
pirant was placed under the guidance of
the most accomplished masters, and in a
few months so rapid was his proficiency that we
find him making his debut at a concert given at
the Royal Exchange in his native city; and in
the following year C1S1O he composed "The
Lovers Mistake" an agreeable ballad sung by
Madame Vestris in Paul PTy. AT the age of
fifteen Balfe repaired to London, and for seven
years held the position of leading vioinist at the
oratorios then performing at Drury Lane Thea
tire. He played solos on alternate nights, and his
performances are said not to have been surpassed
by the Oldest and most experienced artists of
the time in the finish and brillancy of
their execution. He was next advanced to the
Drury Lane orchestra, and so signalized himself
that the conductor, Mr.. Thomas Cooke, on sew
eral occasions resigned to him his guiding baton.
Balfe's first appearance before the public as a
aip at inh in
''Caspar," in the opera of Der Freischutz, and
although gifted with voice-a baritone-of
great compass and richness, yet, from nervous.
ness and the novelty Of the role, he made COM
plete fdScO, and for some time became quite
dispirited. His laurels, however, were soon
after regained at the Italian Opera in Paris,
in the character of "Figaro," in the Barber of
Seoile, and with Mabrau, Sontag, Persiani,
and other brilliant cantatrices, he now per-
sonated the leading characters in all the
principal operas. Meantime the pen of this
gifted man continued to enrich the musical
world with an endless variety Of compost
tions, including overtures, ch0ruses, concerted
pieces, and, with others, ballad founded on
the nautical adventures of La Perouse, all of
which were successfully represented at La Scala,
the great Milanese theatre. He is said at this
time too, to have devoted much of his leisure
hours to study, and to have taken lessons from
Filippo Julios and the celebrated Bordogni.
His opera of Atdld was written about this
period, at Paris, and the principal parts were
assigned to Nourrit Malibran Lerasseur, and
Dupont. He next visited Milan, Palermo, and
most of the Italian States, performing in all
the leading theatres; and while at Bergami he
married the prin1a donna Lima Reze.
On his return to London in 1885, Balfe ap-
peared in his own opera, The Siege of Rochelle,
and in Halevy's La Juiye, at the Philharmonic
Concerts and at Drury Lane Theatre. The Maid
of ArtoiS, which we have already mentioned,
was written for Malbran, and, after sixteen
nights performance, is said to have brought the
theatrical treasury $2S 900. The Maid of ArtOis
was succeeded by Katherine Grey, Sir John
Fdlstof, Les Quatre FilS dAynon, Keoldnthe,
Joan of Arc, and Les NuitS Glamour. Not
being successful as the lessee Of the English
Opera House, he engaged as musical com
poser for Drury Lane, and during the lessee
ship of Alfred Bum produced The BO-
hen,idn Girl for Mr.. Harrison and Miss
Rainforth also The Daughter Of ST. Mark
The EnchdntresS LEtoile de SeUile, and
The Bondnlan and subsequently The Mad
of Honor The Rose Of CASTLE, which may
be ranked with The bohemian Girl, land
Satanelld, which completes the trio of Balfe's
most popular works, were both written for Miss
Louisa Pyne and Mr.. Harrison. The number of
his melodies is almost incredible, ranging from
"The Lightof Other Days to that of "Come into
he Garden, Maud all attractive if not
intrici te, and calculated to strike
the popular ear if not to rivet the attention of
the thorough musician. AS composer, Balfe
is said to have equalled Bellini and Auber in the
spontaneity of his melodies, and, although he
has left nothing which deserves to be ranked
with the works of the great masters, he has left
much which will long maintain its hold upon the
popular fancy.