The Washington herald., 1910-06-26
MICHAEL WILLIAM BALFT.
Something About Composer of "The
bohemian. Girl"


Like a great many good things sup
posed 20 be Of English origin, THE Bo-
hemign Girl" Is the work OF an Irish
man. Michael William Balfe. the COM
poser of this opera, Is one OF the most
romantic and interesting figures in the
history OF music. Born at Dublin, May
Is. 1905. the son of a dancing master.
he was soon recognized as a musical
prodigy, began to learn the violin about
the age great many children begin to
talk, was vLolinist for his fathers dane
ing class at six. and at the age Of seven
composed a polacca and scored Il for a
band. He was then placed under the
instruction Of O'Rourke. OF Dublin, after
ward known as Rookie in London, and
this noted Irish musician brought out
the nine-year-old Balfe as a violinist
In that year he composed his first song,
Young Fanny" afterward called THE
Lovers Mistake
His father died and left the boy musi-
clan on his own resources when only
fifteen, and he went 10 London. where
he studied vocalism with Edward Horn,
singer. and composition with the latter's
father, c. F. Horn, the organIst. He
also played in the orchestra at Drury
Lane. and at times acted as conductor
there. His first appearance as an opera
singer was In Der Freischutz" and
in 1925 he went to Italy with Count
Mazzara, in whose house he lived in
Rome while studying under Paer. and
at Milan he studied counterpart with
Federico. and singing with Filippo CALI
In his twentieth year he wrote his first
dramatic composition-a ballad entitled
La Perouse." He then went to Paris
and took up his vocal studies under
Bordogni, and made his first appearance
there on the operatic stage at nineteen
years of age as Figaro, in The Barber
of Seville" under the composer, Ros-
SIM. He was successful from that time
on, both as a BARITONE and as a com
poser, in France, Italy, and England
He married the Hungarian singer Mile.
Lima Rosa, whom he met at Bergamo.
Balfe's first opera in English, The
Siege of Rochelle" was produced at
Drury Lane. In 1885, and was followed
by THE Maid of Artonis,'' in 1886. These
were both we'll received, and were fol-
lowed In close succession by his other
compositions. Catherine Grey and
Joan Of Arc QS3O, 'Falstaff'' uSS0,
'Keolanthe' OSfD, The Bohemian Girl"
and lie Puts d'Amour'' QsfS), "Quatre
Fills d'Aymon" and ''The Daughter of
St Mark" Qs4D, The Enchantress"
QS45), The Bondman" Qs46, THE
DEVILS in IT, and "The Maid of Honor
uS4D, THE sicilian Bride Qs52), Pit
tore Duca" QS56). THE Rose OF Cas-
tile" ClS5D, "Satanella" QS5S). Blanca"
(1S60), The ArmOrer of Nantes and
Blanche de Nevers" QS63). and others,
nearly all OF which were successful. but
none OF which have endured as has his
masterpiece. THE Bohemian Girl" He
died October 20. 1870. and his posthumous
opera. THE Talisman." was first per-
formed In London, in 1874
During his career as a composer Balfe
continued to appear as a barytone in
other operas, and both he and his wife
sang in some Of his own works. He was
highly honored in Germany, Russia.
Frnce. and Italy. as we'll as In his own
country, and received a number Of
decorations from foreign royalty. In
1864, he retired to his place in the coun-
try, called ROwney Abbey. in HEREFORD
shire. as a gentleman farmer.