Miss Leary at Vauxhall (1793/4)
VAUXHALL GARDENS 1661–1859
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SOLO
SINGERS WHO PERFORMED AT VAUXHALL GARDENS 1745–1859
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|
| This
list is compiled largely from contemporary records, and only gives dates
for actual or planned performances, or where other strong evidence exists.
In some cases it is possible that the singers performed at Vauxhall during
the intermediate years as well. Most of the soloists who performed at
Vauxhall are recorded here, although some names are sure to be missing,
especially for the period 1745–1763. The titles of songs are only
given if they are strongly associated with that particular singer. Normally,
after the early 1760s, a group of between four and eight singers would
be employed each season. Some of the names I have given separately, for instance, Mr. Cowell, and Mr. Sam Cowell, may be the same person, but until evidence is available either way, I have listed them individually. Some of the married female singers may aready be listed under their maiden names. This list includes only those singers who sang regularly with the Vauxhall band during one or more seasons. From the mid-1820s onwards, there were several special charity events, individual opera performances, and the like, at which some of the great singing stars of the day performed. These are recorded separately. |
|
| Acres, Miss | 1808, 1810 |
| Addison, Mrs. Elizabeth : néeWillems | She was a granddaughter of H.T. Reinhold (vid.) and married to John Addison, the cellist (vid.) who also sang at Vauxhall. 1791, 1792: The Beauty of the Mind [Music—Hook/Words -—Mr. Addison], 1793 |
| Addison, Mr. John (c.1766–1844) | The husband of Elizabeth Addison. Cellist and singer. 1791 |
| Allen, Mr. | 1842 |
| Arne, Mrs. Cecilia (1711–1789) | According to Charles Burney [A General History of Music, II (London, 1776–89); ed. Frank Mercer (London: G. T. Foulis, 1935/R1957), p.1000] "this lady . . . with a good natural voice and fine shake, . . . had been so well taught, that her style of singing was infinitely superior to that of any other English woman of her time." [quoted in Roe/Hogwood, Johann Christian Bach —Favourite Songs Sung at Vauxhall (1985), p.xii]. Cecilia Young married Arne in 1737, and did not appear much after 1746, due to illness. DL from 1730 |
| Arne, Michael (1740–86) | Composer, performer and singer |
| Arrowsmith, Daniel |
(Tenor) A pupil of Michael Arne. 'He possesses great power, sweetness and extent of voice, and sings in that spirited and energetic manner, for which the late Mr. Vernon was so justly celebrated' May 14, 1783, [cutting in Minet V, f.13, after his first appearance at VG on 13 May]. In the 1780s, Arrowsmith had been butler to John Pney Esq., who promoted his talent, such that he soon appeared on the stage of DL. He had a sound tenor voice, and was known for his lively imitations of his peers. Arrowsmith performed a tibute to Vernon q.v. on the opening night of 1782, a Prologue Cantata by Miles Peter Andrews (set by Barthelemon. After his retirement from the stage he took and inn at his native town in Berkshire. He also played violin, cello and German flute. He was received 'with great applause and encored in every song. He has a fine tenor voice of great flexibility, extent, and sweetness' [British Magazine and Review, II (May 1783), p.384] 1783, 1784, 1785 ('discharged' by 1786) Arrowsmith was c.1780, butler to John Poney, sword-bearer to the Lord Mayor. Poney, who lived at Took's-court, Chancery lane sponsored his musical career. He acted at Drury Lane, and had a talent for the comic imitation of other singers. He was also a solo performer on the flute, violin and 'cello. After retiring from the stage, he took an inn at his native town, in Berkshire. |
| Austin, Mrs. | 1820 |
| Baddeley, Mrs. Sophia (1745–86) | Actress and vocalist. Née Snow, the daughter of Valentine Snow. Portrait, with a Cat, by Reynolds (eng. Ephraim Welsh 1772); portrait by Zoffany (eng. Robert Laurie). At Vauxhall in 1768. Married Robert Baddeley, the actor, in 1763 (separated in 1770, after his bad treatment of her). Paid 12 gns. a week at RG and VG. Also performed at DL. Became addicted to laudanum, and died of consumption on 1 July 1786 |
| Barker, Master | 1826 |
| Barnett, Miss | 1786. Probably Catherine Barnett, a child of nine. |
| Barry, Miss | 1849 (1st performance) |
| Barthelemon, Mrs. | 1773/4 (see Miss Young) |
| Bedford, Henry | (younger brother of Paul) of the English Opera House, 1833, 1839 (1st perf.), 1841 (last night only) |
| Bedford, Paul | 1831 (1st perf. From DL), 1832, 1833, 1834,1835,1836, 1837,1838,1839, 1844 |
| de Begnis, Signor | 1826 |
| Bellchambers, Mrs. | 1818 |
| Bennett, Mr. S | 1832 |
| Benson, Mr. | 1828 |
| Bertles, Miss Catherine (fl.1787–1794) | 1787 (her first appearance in public), 1788 |
| Betts, Miss | 1842 |
| Billington, Mr. | 1777 |
| Billington, Mrs. | 1779/80 |
| Binge, Mr. | 1845, 1846 |
| Bishop, Mrs. H.R | 1834 (1st perf.) |
| Blanchard, Miss | 1844 |
| Bland, Mrs. Maria Theresa (c.1769–1838) |
née Romanzini. 'the sweet-voiced, dumpy little ballad singer [Walford, 448]; even in common speech [her voice] is touching and harmonious [Minet V, f.82]. In 1789, she was said to have 'refused an offer of the Vauxhall Managers, to the tune of one hundred and sixty guineas [for the season]' [The Times, 29 December 1789]. 1790, 1795, 1800, 1801,1802–1805, 1807–1811. In 1812 she was paid £250 for the season. 1813, 1814–1816, 1818: sang a new song, composed by Parke, which was echoed in a distant part of the gardens by the bugle-horn [Parke, II, p.135-6], 1819 1822 (paid 11gns. per week). Retired by 1823. The singers James and Charles Bland were her sons. |
| Bland, Louis | 1849 (1st perf.), 1850, 1852 |
| Blomgreen, Miss | 1804 |
Braham, John (1774–1856) or John Abraham |
Appeared as a child 'Master Abrahams' in 1787. He was the son of Abraham "Singer" of Prosnitz (d.1779); he lived and toured with Nancy Storace (1766–1817) from c.1797. Tenor and composer (author of The Death of Nelson). 1826 (who was engaged at 800 gns. for the season - Minet V, f.157), 1844. After training in Italy, Braham returned to London in 1801. He sang at most of the great English theatres, and later composed operas, but lost a lot of money investing in two theatres |
| Brent, Miss Charlotte (1734–1802) |
Soprano, and 'Arne's most promising pupil (and mistress), whose impeccable bravura singing made up for other defects, including halitosis [Mary Nash, The Provoked Wife: The Life and Times of Susannah Cibber (1977), pp.304–5n.]. She sang at Ranelagh from 1764, continuing for 20 years, and at CG 1759–1770. The role of Mandane in Arne's Artaxerxes was written for her. She was the daughter of Charles Brent, 1693–1770, a Handelian counter-tenor, and fencing-master. She married Pinto in Nov 1766, c.1761,1765. Her last public appearance was in 1785. She died in poverty at her home, 6 Vauxhall Walk. |
| Brown, Mr. D | 1847 |
| Browning, Mrs. | 1846 (1st perf.) |
| Bruton, Mr. J | 1850, the eminent comic singer [& see staff list] |
| Buckingham, Mr. | Impressionist & comic singer. 1833, 1835, 1836, 1837, 1838, 1839, 1841 (last night only), 1844 |
| Burchell, Miss Isabella / Mrs. Vincent (fl.1751–60) | Acc. to Manning & Bray, Miss B. was brought to London by Jonathan Tyers, and articled to him. She was employed as milk-girl near Denbies and Tyers had heard her sing at her work; he bound her apprentice with the approval of her parents and paid for her training.It was she who sang in Garrick's DL representation of VG without Tyers's authority. She married Richard Vincent, leader of the Vauxhall band, in 1755, while she was still an apprentice. 1751, 1752, 1754 |
| Busby, Thomas (1755-1838) | Later wrote "General History of Music" etc. engaged, aged 14, at 10 gns. a week (DNB) |
| Catley,
Anne (1745–1789)
|
Soprano; her first public appearance, aged 17. She was introduced to Marylebone by T. Lowe as one of his 'vocal assistants' (Called 'Miss Katlock' in one VG cutting). Taught by Mr. Bates. (Portrait as Euphrosyne by William Lawranson eng. Robert Dunkarton, 1777) 1762 |
| Caulfield, Mr. | 1852 |
| Charles, Mr. | (from the Theatre Royal, Dublin) 1828 |
| Childe, Mrs. | 1817, 1818, 1819 |
| Clark, Mr. | Bass. 1822 (paid £5 per week), 1823 |
| Clifford, Mr. | 1792 (1st perf.), 1793, 1795 |
| Collier/Collyer,
M.r |
'A very chaste singer' 1815, 1816, 1818, 1819, 1821, 1822 (paid £5 per week), 1823, 1825 |
| Collins, Mr. J.H | 1847, of the Ethiopian Serenaders, St James's Theatre) |
| Cooke, Miss | 1826 |
| Cooke, Mrs. | Wife of the composer Thomas Cooke.(See Miss Fanny Howells). 1800 |
| Cooper, Mr. | The popular Scotch vocalist. 1851 |
| Cornega, Madame | 1826 |
| Corri, Mr. F. | 1858 |
| Corri, Master Haydn 1858 | 1858 |
| Coveney, Miss | 1828 (1st perf., only eleven years of age), 1832 |
| Cowell, Mr. | 1846 (1st perf.) Comic singer |
| Cowell, Mr. Sam | Of the Lyceum Theatre. 1854, 1855 |
| Cowper, Miss | Singing J. C. Bach songs. 1771 |
| Critchfield, Mr. T. | 1859 (last night) |
| Crouch, Mrs. [Mrs. Anna Maria 'Nancy' Crouch, (1763–1805) | Soprano. Engraved portrait by Ridley after Pope. Also Bartolozzzi after Romney, 1788. She married Crouch, a naval lieutenant in 1785, her maiden name was Phillips. She lived on the King's Road, Chelsea, then in Drury Lane.Her tutor was Mr. Wafer,an organist. At 16 she was articled to Linley at Drury Lane and she first appeared on the DL stage in 1780. 1804? |
| Cubitt, Mr. | 1782 (principal singer), 1821 |
| Cubitt, Miss | 1821 |
| Cubitt, Mrs. | 1782 |
| Danby, Mr. | 1800, 1807, 1808, 1815, 1816 |
| Daniels, Miss | 1800, 1803 |
| Darcie, Mr . | 1846 |
| Darley, Mr. (d. June 13, 1809) | An inferior tenor, but very popular for his jovial personality. Had a robust style and over-powerful voice that he did not moderate. Chubby, jolly, called 'a big suckling' by Anthony Pasquin in The Children of Thespis, (1792). 1780, 1789, 1790, 1791, 1792, 1793,1794, 1795 |
| Davies, Miss | 1763, 1764 |
| Days, Miss Louise | 'of Provincial Celebrity—her First Appearance in London'. 1850 |
| Begnis, Mr. de | 1826 |
| Delavanti, Signor | From the Theatres Royal. 1851 |
| Denman, Mr. Henry (1774–1816) | Bass singer, also played the bassoon. 1796, 1797, 1798, 1799, 1800, 1807, 1808, 1815 |
| Denner, Mr. | 1801 |
| Dickons, Mrs. Martha (c.1774–1833) (née Poole) | 1787f. Not the same as Miss Poole below |
| Dignum, Mr. Charles (c.1765–1827) | Tenor and composer. He was apparently short and plump. 1794 (1st perf.), 1795, 1796, 1797, 1798, 1799, 1800, 1801, 1803, 1804,1806, 1807, 1808, 1809,1810 1811, 1812, 1815, 1816 |
| Donaldson, Mr. W.E | 'The Negro Melodist'. 1858 |
| Dowse, Mr. | 'Mr Dowse, formerly a vocal performer at Vauxhall, Marybone Gardens, Sadler's Wells, &c. He was found dead on a dunghill, at an inn in High Holborn [Deaths column in The British Magazine and Review, London, 1782–3, vol. II, January 1783, p.82] |
| Drummond, Miss | 1844 |
| Dunn, The Misses | 1818 |
| Duffy/Duffey, Mr. Peter | Tenor, pupil of Giordani. A capable tenor who later went to the U.S.A. 1791 |
| Edmonds, Mr. W.L | 1852 |
| Ellis, Miss | 1849 (1st perf.) |
| Evans, Mr. | Bass, 1792. Appears to have been used in ensemble singing in 1786, along with another bass, Kenrick and Mr. Billington, tenor. |
| Falkner/Faulkener, Miss | c.1750 |
| Farrol, Mrs. | Probably Mrs. Margaret Farrell, d.1793, nee Doyle, an Irish contralto and pupil of Arne. She sang as Mrs. Kennedy from 1779. 1775 |
| Fearon, Mrs. | 1848 |
| Feron, Miss / Mrs. Glossop | 1808, 1809 'On the evening of the 2d ult. we were regaled with the imitative powers of Miss Feron; but, while they excite our admiration, we cannot help lamenting that those exertions will infallibly, in the end, ruin her voice' [Minet V, f.82] W.T. Parke calls her 'a very promising young singer' [II, p.37], 1810, ?1811, 1812, 1815. C. 1827, she sang 'acting songs' by W. Parke, 'without a book in her hands, a thing never before known in these gardens [Parke, 1830, II, p.247]. Miss Fearon/Feron served her apprenticeship under the violinist Charles Cobham, c.1811. She later studied in Italy, returning to London in 1827 as Mme.Feron, apparently receiving a fee of £40 a night on the London stage (although a Madame Feron and Miss Feron appeared together in the same production of Don Giovanni c.1810). Miss Fearon's admission ticket for the 1808 season is in the Gerald Coke Handel Collection at the Foundling Museum, London. |
| Field, Mr. C | 1846 |
| Fitzwilliam, Mrs. | 1836 |
| Forde, Miss |
From CG, a pupil of Signor Vaccai. 1833 — first public appearance. 1834, 1835 1836; 1841 (last night only) |
| Forde, Mr. J.G | 1858 comic songs |
| Foster, Mr. | 1821, 1836, 1852 |
| Franklin, Mrs. | (ex Miss Leary); also sang at Willis's Rooms, King Street and the Crown & Anchor Tavern in the Strand. 1793, 1794, 1795, 1796, 1797, 1798, 1799, 1800, 1801, 1802, 1804, 1807 |
| Frazer James, Miss | 1833, 1835 |
| Gardiner, Mr. F | Had a range of 3 octaves. 1838 (1st appearance) |
| Garrick, Mrs. | Of Bath. Née Sarah Jane Grey, Mrs. George Garrick (son of George Garrick who was the younger brother of David Garrick the actor). 1811 (contract in Garrick club) @ 10 gns. per week. 1812, 1813? Engraved portrait by Thomson after Drummond. |
| Gawdry, Mr. | pre 1773 |
| Genge, Mr. | 1846 (1st perf.) |
| George, Miss | 1821 |
| George #2 , Miss | 1831 (1st from the Bath Concerts): 1836 |
| Gibbon(s), Mr. | 1800, 1803, 1804, 1805, 1806,1807, 1808, 1815 |
| Gibbs, Mrs. | (see Miss Graddon) |
| Gibson, Mr. | 1807 [Monthly Mirror] |
| Giffin, Mr. H | 1846 |
| Gilson, Mr. | 1764, c.1765 |
| Glindon, Mr. Bob | The old comic singer, C19 |
| Golden, Miss | 1823 |
| Gould, Mr. | 1847 |
| Goulden, Mr. | Counter-tenor, 1823, 1824 |
| Graddon, Miss Margarita (b. Taunton, 1804, by c.1844, Mrs Gibbs) | Student of Tom Cooke. 1822 (paid £5 per week), 1844 |
| Grattan, Mrs. H.P | 1842 |
| Gray, Master | 1799, 1800 |
| Gray, Mr. | 1805, possibly the same as above |
| Greville, Miss | 1800, 1805 (singing Come Out my Love, by Hook) |
| Grover, Mr. Russell (1822–1896) | 1856, 1858 (Vocal Conductor), 1859 Sung the last song on the last night, Nevermore |
| Hammersley, Miss M. | 1824 |
| Harris, Miss Lizzie | 1859 (last night) |
| Helme, Miss | 1826, 1828, 1829 |
| Hempel, Miss | 1848 |
| Herbert, Mr. John | 1850, the Celebrated Mimetic Vocalist. 1851, the favourite vocal Buffo. |
| Herrmanns, Herr | From the German Opera. 1849 |
| Hime/Hine, Mr. E.L. | 1847, 1848 |
| Hobbs, Mr. | 1831 (1st perf.), 1836 |
| Hodges, Mr. | 1846 |
| Hodson, Mr. George A. | 1853 (Vocal Conductor), 1854 |
| Hodson, Miss Georgina | 1848, 1853 |
| Horncastle, Mr. | 1826, 1833, 1835 |
| Horton, Miss P. | 1829 |
| Howard, Mr. | 1777 |
| Howard, Mrs. | 1775, 1779/80 |
| Howells, Miss | 1798, 1799, 1800 |
| Howells, Miss Fanny (?1785-1824) | Articled to Michael Kelly. Married Thomas Simpson Cooke. 1798 (when she may have been only 13) and 1800 (with her sister) |
| Huddart, Miss Fanny | From the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, and Nobilities Concerts. 1850 |
| Hudson, Mr. | 1775, 1777 |
| Hudson, Mrs. (fl.1772–86; d.1792) |
Possibly
the Mrs. Hudson who sang also at Arnold's oratorios in London. She was
born Frances Hawkeswell in York, trained as a mantua maker and married
a French Horn player, William Hudson, after which she took to singing.
She organised the York concerts with Thomas Shaw of Bath. Next in
order comes Hudson, with judgement and ease, |
| Hughes, Miss | 1830, 1836 |
| Hyde, Master | 1819 |
| Iliff, Mrs. | 1788 (1st perf.), 1790 |
| Incledon, Charles Benjamin (1763– 11 Feb 1826, Worcester) | He was a Cornish singer, the son of a doctor in Saint Keverne, Cornwall and educated at Blundell's School and as a choirboy at Exeter. Sailor-turned-tenor, later worked in Bath. Had a good sweet voice, but he was conceited, and overdid his falsetto. 1785, 1786, 1787, 1788, 1789, 1790, 1820 |
| Irving, Mr. Allan | Of the Conservatoire, Paris, and Exeter Hall Concerts. 1849 (1st perf.) |
| Jacobs, Miss E. | 1856 |
| Jagger, Mr. | 1762, 1764 to mid 1770s |
| James, Miss | (probably the same as Miss Frazer James above) 1835 |
| Jameson, Miss (fl.1770–1774) |
With
voice like a Siren, see Jameson in view,
She always is pleasing, and always is new; Like the thrush or the linnet she warbles her lays, And gives such delight as demands every praise. (1775) 1771, 1772, 1774, 1775 |
| Jolly, The Misses | From the London Concerts. 1851, 1852 |
| Jonghmans, Herr | Buffo singer, 'whose stentorian voice is just the thing for out-of-door singing' [Morning Herald, July 22 1852], 1852 Largo al Factotum, 1853, 1854, 1855, 1856 |
| Jones, Mr. | 1831, 1839 |
| Jones, Mr. Sinclair | 1842, 1847, 1848 |
| Keely, Mrs. Mary / Miss Goward (b. c.1810) | From Norfolk. Portrait, 1848, Minet VI, f.173). 1832 |
| Kennedy, Mrs. Margaret / Mrs. Farrell / Miss Doyle (d.1793) | Irish Actress and contralto; married to Dr Kennedy MD. Not pretty, but a wonderful voice. Took the role of Macheath in 1777. Later, 'became a great support to the vocal department of Vauxhall Gardens . . . and continued to be a great favourite with the public for many years' [Parke, 1830, I, p.28–9].Sang at Ranelagh in July 17801781, 1782, 1783, 1784, 1785, 1786 ("discharged"), 1787 |
| Kenny, Mr. C. | 1846 |
| Knight, Miss | 1828 |
| Kramer, Ernst & Traudel | 1847, the Tyrolean Minstrels |
| Lawrence, Mrs: | 1858 |
| Leary, Miss Anna Maria | 'The Siren of Vauxhall'. 1785, 1786, 1787 (she lacked confidence), 1788, 1789, 1790, 1791, 1792. She Married Mr. Franklin in 1792/3. Portrait engraved by T. Trotter in 1786. |
| Leaver, Mrs. | 1786, 1790 |
| Leffleur, Mr. | The celebrated Basso. 1850 |
| Loder, Mr. | 1792 |
| Longhurst, Master | 1822 (paid £5 per week, as adult singers), 1823, 1824, 1825 (£2 per week) |
| Lorraine, Miss | 1847 |
| Love, Miss Emma Sarah (1798-1881) | (Portrait as frontis. to The Siege of Belgrade, Minet VI, f.185).1825: Buy a Broom [H.R. Bishop/J.R. Planché - headpiece with illus of Miss L. as a broom-seller]. 1826 [portrait, Minet V, f.160]. Article on Miss Love: Kevin H.F. O'Brien and Ann Johnson, 'Emma Sarah Love', Theatre Notebook, LIV , No. 3 (2000) pp. 146 -161 |
| Lowe, Thomas (c.1719–March 1783) | Actor and tenor singer. Started at DL in 1740. Engaged at Ruckholt as principal singer from the outset and Manager of MG 1760–1768. At Vauxhall 1745, 1746, 1747, 1749, 1750,1751, 1752, 1753, 1754, 1755, 1756,1757, 1758, 1759, 1760, c.1761, (and possibly to 1767) , 1780 (possibly Lowe's son, Halifax). |
| Lyons, Miss Louisa | 1845 (was absent on her first night) |
| McEwen, Mr. | A new comic singer. 1842 |
| Mackney, Mr. | 1856 |
| Mahon, Mr. | Bass 1785, 1787 |
| Mallinson, Mr. J. | From Bath, a very popular comic singer 1823,1824, 1825, 1844 |
| Mapleson, Mrs. | 1831, 1833, 1834 |
| Margerum/Margeram, Mrs. | From the provincial theatres—Lancaster, Windsor, etc.1807 (1st perf.), 1820 |
| Marshall, Mr. | 1845 |
| Martin, Miss | 1831 (1st perf. Also at DL) |
| Martini, Signor | From the San Carlos at Naples. 1852 (1st perf.) |
| Martyr, Mrs. Margaret (d.1807) | Soprano and actress, née Thornton.Miss Thornton (see below) married John Martyr on 6 May 1780. Portrait by Gaisborough Dupont in the Garrick Club. Performed "breeches" roles, eg Cherubino. Lived with the oboist W.T. Parke from 1784, and had three childrfen with him in 1792, 1799 and 1803. At Vauxhall as Miss Thornton in in 1779–80 and as Mrs. Martyr 1785, 1786, 1789. |
| Matthews, Miss | 1816 |
| Matthews, Miss Fanny | From the St James's Theatre, 1838, 1847 |
| Matthews, Mrs. Frank | From the Theatre Royal, St James's. 1838 (1st perf.), 1839 |
| Matthews, Mr. Tom | 1859 (last night) |
| Matz, Mr. Joseph | 1859 (last night) |
| Mears, Mr. | The primo tenore, who warbles forth, with a most innocent phiz, playful little ballads. 1833, 1835, 1837 |
| Mears, Mrs. | 1859 (Last Night) |
| Melville, Miss A.H. | 'A young lady of interesting appearance' [Vauxhall Observer, 5, p.2] 1823 |
| Merty, Mrs. | 1812, paid four guineas a week |
| Miami, Miss | 1855 |
| Milne, Miss | 1791, 1792, 1793, 1794, 1795, 1800 |
| Moody, Mr. | Comic singer. 1846 (1st perf.), 1849 |
| Morgan, Mr. | 1852 |
| Morley, Mr. | 1836 |
| Morrell, Miss | 1825 (paid £4 per week) |
| Mountain, Mrs. Rosemond (c.1768–1841) | Soprano and actress. Née Wilkinson. Married to Joseph Mountain, violinist. 1793–1800, 1811. Miniature portrait of 'Rosoman Mountain' by John James Masquerier, after an unknown artist ' S.G.', N.P.G.760 |
| Nelson, Mr. | 1824 |
| Nelson, Miss Eliza | From the Theatre Royal Drury Lane and Nobilities Concerts. 1850 |
| Newman, Miss | 1787, 1790 (returning after a gap) |
| Noel, Miss | With her sly wicked eyes' [Vauxhall Observer 37] 1822 (paid £5 per week), 1823 |
| Norris, Miss | Sang Christopher Smart's The Trial of Chaucer's Ghost with Thomas Lowe and Miss Stephenson in 1750 |
| Nunn, Mrs. | A pupil of Corri. 1804 (1st perf.) |
| Olckers, Herr | 1854 |
| Owenson, Robert Nugent (1744–1812) | Bass 1770 |
| Page, Mr. (1760?–1812) | Also compiled musical works. 1786, 1790 ('new to these Gardens'). |
Page #2, Mr. |
1833, 1834 |
| Paget, Miss | 1835 |
| Pawsey, Mr. | 1852 |
| Parsons, Miss | 1845 |
| Pearce, Miss Lydia: | 1847, 1851, from the London Concerts. 1853 |
| Percy, Mr. H. | 1849 |
| Phelps, Master: | Who 'may be considered as a phenomenon - such a voice might charm despair to rest, and make a savage tame.' 1793 (1st perf.) 1794 |
| Philipps, Miss | 1856 |
| Pinto, Mrs. Charlotte: (née Brent) | Died 10 April 1802, in obscurity and indigence in Vauxhall Walk. Her husband Thomas was leader at the Opera. 1765, 1767, 1768, 1770 |
| Poole, Miss, (Mrs. Dickons) | 1787, 1788, 1789 |
| Poole, Miss Caroline (1780-?) | First employed at Vauxhall aged 13 in 1793. Married Peter Dickons, a wealthy Yorkshire manufacturer 7 August 1800. Later appeared at CG. |
| Povey, Miss. | 1820, 1826 |
| Pyne, Mr. | 1818, 1823, 1824, 1844 |
| Rafter, Mr. | 1848 |
| Rafter, Miss | 1848 |
| Ransford, Mr. | 1844 (also writing songs) |
| Reeves, Miss Fanny | From the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. 1853, 1856 |
| Reinhold, Henry Theodore (1690?–1751) | Bass. Native of Dresden. At Vauxhall from 1745. |
| Roberts, Mr. Valentine | 1849 (1st perf.) |
| Robinson, Mr. G. | 1825 (£4 per wk) 1826, 1829, 1831, 1832, 1833, 1834, 1836, 1837, 1841 (last night only), 1844, 1845, 1848 ('So long known and so deservedly popular at these Gardens') |
| Robley, Miss | A pupil of Corri, 'who sung at Vauxhall last season, and who is said to sing nearly as well as Miss Lyon'. 1806, 1808 [Cutting, 5 Dec 1807 in author's collection] |
| Roe, Mr. | 1846 |
| Roe, Mrs. John | 1846 |
| Ross, Mr. W.G. | Comic singer, from the Theatres Royal, Edinburgh and Glasgow. 1849 |
| St. George, Miss Julia: | As an actress, had worked with Henry Irving in 1859 at the Princess's Theatre. Died an alcoholic in the St Pancras workhouse, aged 79, in November 1903. 1849 (1st perf.), from the Theatres Royal, Olympic and Sadler's Wells. |
| Sawford, Mrs. |
1849 (First appearance in London) |
| Sedgwick, Thomas (d.1803) | Bass singer. 1793 |
| Sharp[e], Mr. J.W. (c. 1818-1856) | Comic Singer. 'the liberal disperser of vapours, megrims and spleen' [Minet archive, 1846]. 'During Mackney's term at the Canterbury,he had among his comic comrades J.W. Sharp, who was one of the funniest fellows that ever appeared on any stage. . . . It was either at Vauxhall Gardens, or at Evans's where Sharp added to his small weekly allowance of lucre and liquor by selling personally in the hall, manuscript copies of his most popular songs, . . . Poor 'Jack' Sharp drifted into becoming a 'tramp' comic singer, making a collection in this or that tavern bar, . . . finally he drifted into the Dover Workhouse, where he died in January, 1856, aged thirty-eight. [Charles Morton]. Edited Sharp's Vauxhall Comic Song- Book, pub'd by Thomas Allman, London. 2 series.The 2nd series has goodtitle page illus.of the VG orchestra with ?Sharp himself singing to an audience, and a frontipiece portrait of Sharp, with a facsimile autograph. 1845, 1846, 1847, 1848, 1851, 1852 1852! (J.W. Sharp), 1853, 1854 |
| Shaw, Mr. | 1820, 1821, 1852 |
| Shepherd, Master | 1792 (1st perf.) |
| Sherborne, Mr. | 1776 |
| Sherborn(e), Miss/Mrs. | 1770, 1774 |
| Simmons, Mr. J. | 1846 |
| Sims, Miss | 1795, 1800 |
| Sinclair, Mr. | 1826, 1846 |
| Singleton, Miss | 1811, 1814 |
| Sloman, Mr. Charles | 'The only English Improvisitore': [Reminiscences of Vauxhall, Ancient and Modern] 1833, 1858 |
| Smith, Miss | 1800 |
| Smith, Mrs. Aveling | 1846,1847, 1848 |
| Smith, Mr. | 1803, 1811 |
| Smith, Mr. F | 1845 |
| Smith, Mr. G. | 1829 |
| Smith Mrs | 1769 |
| Smith, Master | A pupil of Mr. Broadhurst. 1828 (1st perf.) |
| Smith, Mrs. | 1769 (1st Perf) |
| Smithson/Smythson, Georgiana | Pupil of Madame Feron. 1848 |
| Snadden, Miss | 1822 (paid £6 per week) |
| Spiller, Miss Rosina | 1849 |
| Stansbury, Mr. G. | 1831, 1833. Leader of the band and conductor of the music in 1836, 1837, 1838, 1841 (last night only). |
| Stephens, Catherine (1794–1882) | Soprano and actress, a protégée of Bishop. She became the Countess of Essex in 1838. Called "the queenly Kitty Stephens" by Walford, p.448. Good portrait at Vauxhall in Minet. Oil portriat by Thomas Lawrence in the Fundación Lázaro Galdiano, Madrid, Inv. No. 2520. It was rumoured that Miss Stephens earned £5,000 from one singing tour to Ireland. 1826 |
| Sterling/Stirling, Mrs. | 1812 (paid 10 guineas per week), 1813,1814, 1815 |
| Stevenson/Stephenson, Miss (fl.1748–58) | At Vauxhall by 1748, 1749, 1750. Jockey, 1751, c.1753, 1754, 1755, 1756, 1757,1758, 1759 |
| Stewart, Mrs. | 1788 (1st perf.) |
| Stuart, Mr. Alfred | 1853 |
| Stuart, Miss: | 1836 |
| Taylor, Miss Agnes | 1837, also played the Musical Glasses. 1838, 1844, 1845 |
| Taylor, Mr. Charles | 1794 (1st perf.), 1795, 1800, 1811, 1812 (paid £200 for the season), 1813, 1816: sang, for the first time a new 'laughing song', composed by Wm Parke. 1817, 1818, 1819, 1820, 1821, 1822 (Musical Director of VG, paid £60 for the season, and £140 for singing), 1825 (£9 per week), 1826 |
| Taylor, Mr. Charles | 1844 |
| Taylor, Mr. Elijah | 1858 (E. Taylor mentioned as a regular in 1841—Vauxhall Papers, 119) |
| Taylor, Miss M. | 1837 |
| Taylor, Mr. W. | Bass. 1811, 1816 |
| Tedder, Mr. George | 1850 |
| Temple, Mr. | 1836 |
| Templeton or Templeman, Mr. | 1832, 1836 [John Templeton, 1802–1886, Scottish Tenor] |
| Terrail, Mr. | 1808 |
| Thornton, Mr. | 1779/80, 1780 |
| Thornton, Miss (Mrs. Martyr) | 1778, 1780, 1779 |
| Tinney, Mr. | 825 (£4 per week), 1826, 1828 |
| Townsend, Mr. | 1800, 1801, 1804 |
| Travis, Miss | 1826 |
| Trinklee, Mr. | 1845, 8th Oct (1st perf.) |
| Tunstall, Catherine (1796-March 1846?) | An apprentice of Mr. Turnbull. Died suddenly in March 1846 at her house on Wellington Street, Newington Causeway. 1816 (1st perf.), 1819, 1822 (lead singer), 1823, 1824, 1825 (£6 per week). Portrait of Miss. T. as a frontis. to the song Mister Goose [clearly the same as Mistress Goose] by John Parry 'sung with enthusiastic applause' [nd]. Shown with a goose in a suit. She lived at South Place, Somers Estate, North Bloomsbury. Performed at Sadler's Wells with Charles Dibdin 1817-26, and at DL. In the 1830s she was at the Edinburgh Theatre. Engraving of Miss T. and Mrs Mallinson singiing their famous comic duet Joey of Vauxhall in the Orchestra (probably 1823), is in Peter Jackson's collection. In 1822, she was paid £5 per week during the season, and was allowed three nights off to perform in Norwich during the assize week. She eraned more than Edward Hopkins, leader of the military band or Samuel Potter, kettle and bass drum player. |
| Tyrer, Miss (Mrs. John Liston) (d.1854) | 1844 |
| Vernon, Mr. Joseph (1738/9–March 1782) |
Tenor
and actor. Master Vernon, aged 11, was William Savage's pupil at St
Paul's Cathedral. Charles Burney calls him 'the best Chorister in any
of the three Cathedrals' [Memoirs, frag. 59, Dec 1750.] He was
Lowe's successor at Vauxhall; also heir to Lowe's imprudence and debauchery.
[Burney, frag. 109, n.4] He had an inferior voice to Lowe, but a better
knowledge of music, and a better actor. Also performed at RG and DL.
With face full of laughter view Vernon appear, He chaunts some gay ballad our spirits to chear; His talents for humour to all are well known, For 'twas long since agreed, mirth had made him her own. (1775) 1763,1764, 1765,1766, 1767, 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772, 1773, 1774, 1775, 1776, 1777, 1778, 1779, 1780, 1781 |
| Vernon, Mrs. (Miss Weller) | 1779/80 |
| Vestris, Mme. Lucia Elizabeth (1797–1856) | Contralto. Née Bartolozzi. Had a luscious low voice. 1826 (1st perf.) |
| Vincent, Miss | 1779/80 |
| Vincent, Miss | 1839 (1st perf.) |
| Vincent, Mrs. Isabella (Miss Burchell, later Mrs. Mills) |
Richard Vincent, who married Isabella on 25 August 1755, died in 1766. In 1767 she married John Mills. They had a son who was born and died in India. John Mills was an East India naval captain, transporting passengers and goods to Indid and he later became a public official in Calcutta. He was one of the last survivors of the 'Black Hole of Calcutta'. Inhis Rosciad Churchill writes of Isabella Lo!
Vincent comes with simple grace array'd; Isabella died on 9 June 1802 at her home in Hampstead Road, London , and was buried at St. Pancras Old Church.1757,1759,1760,1761,1763
|
| Vocalists: | English, Irish and French vocalists, 1849 |
| Waite, Miss | Presumably the young Mrs. Weichsel. 1824 |
| Warman/Wearman, Miss | 1764, c.1775. Presumably a relative of Mrs. Weichsel. |
| Warral/Warrel, Mrs. | 1777 |
| Waylett, Miss Harriett (7 Feb 1800–1851) neé Cook | Taught
by Mr. Loder, married Mr. Waylett, an actor, on 17 June 1819. Harriett
Waylett was paid £15 per week, for performing in 'Dramatic Pieces
and Concerts' [Minet II, f.10]. Like all the other singers, she was to
provide her own wardrobe. There were strict financial penalties for missing
performances or rehearsals, for imperfect performances, and for taking
music books. 1830 (£5 per night), 1832 |
| Webb, Mr. | Comic singer and 'Irish melodist', 1819 |
| Weekes, Mr. | 1829 |
| Weichsel, Mrs. Frederika (c.1745–Jan 5, 1786) | Née
Weirman/Wiermann, married Carl Weichsell oboist and clarinettist in 1764/5.
The mother of Elizabeth Billington. Pupil of J.C. Bach. Last of all comes Apollo's most fav'rite child, Sweet Weichsel who warbles her wood-notes so wild, That the birds are all hush'd as they sit on each spray And the trees nod applause as she chaunts the sweet lay. [1775] c.1765, 1766, 1767, 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772, 1773, 1774, 1775, 1776,1777, 1778, 1779, 1780, 1781,1782, 1783, 1784, 1785 |
| Weinhert/Wienhart, Madame | 1849 (1st perf.) |
| Weller, Miss (Mrs. Vernon) | 1777 |
| Weller, Mr. | 1779/80 |
| Wells, Miss M.A. | 1847 |
| Wells, Miss J. | 1847 |
| Welsh /Welch, Master Tom (1780–1848) | Wells Cathedral chorister from age 6. 1792 in Bath. 1795 (1st perf.), 1796, 1797 |
| Wewitzer, Miss (fl.1772–89) | 1773 |
| Wild, Mr. George | 1855 |
| Williams, Mr. W.H. 'Billy' | Of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Comic Singer. 1823, 1824, 1828, 1829, 1831, 1832, 1833, 1834, 1836, 1844 |
| Williams, Miss | Of the King's Concerts, 1823 |
| Williams, Miss Fanny | 1855 |
| Wills, Miss Eliza | A pupil of Signor Vaccai. 1833 |
| Wilson, Mrs. W. | 1845 |
| Witham, Miss | 1824, 1825 (£5.10s. per week) |
| Wolfe, Mr. | A pupil of Corri. 1804 (1st perf.) |
| Woulds, Mr. | Comic singer. 1827. |
| Wright, Miss | 1765. Probably Eizabeth Wright (?1751–1769), who married Michael Arne in 1766. |
| Wrighten, Mrs. Mary Ann (c1751–1796) | Soprano of 'amazing power and comic archness', and composer of spirited songs. Née Matthews.Mrs Wrighten wrote An Apology for the Life and Conduct of Mrs. Mary Wrighten, late a favourite Actress and Singer of Drury Lane Theatre and Vauxhall Gardens to explain why she left her abusive husband,the indifferent actor John Wrighten. In 1786, the couple separated and were involved in legal wranglings so she could not perform and to get away she soon sailed for North America on 'The Betsy'. She had been apprenticed to an organist called Griffiths. She was apparently no beauty but was affable and entertaining company. In the U.S. she worked for John Henry at the Southwark Theatre in Philadelphia and appeared in New York City, eventually settling in Charleston. From 1792 she was billed as Mrs Hugh Pownall . 1777, 1778, 1779, 1780, 1781, 1782, 1783, 1784. Mrs. Wrighten, Mrs. Weichsell and Mrs. Kennedy were 'an excellent trio' [Parke, 1830, I, p.36], 1785, 1786. |
| Youens, Miss | 1800 |
| Young, Miss Cecilia (1712–1789) | Became Mrs. Arne in 1737. The Miss Young, Cecilia's sister, who may have been performing at Vauxhall, was involved in the Charles Sedley incident reported by Burney, c.1746, was probably Isabella, (Mrs Lampe) |
| Young, Miss Polly (c.1749–1799) | A niece of Dr. and Cecilia Arne. Mary 'Polly' Young of the Hay-market married 'Mr Bartollemon, first violin at the Opera-house' in 1766. 1763, 1765 (singing May Eve or Kate of Aberdeen set by Battishill. |
KEY |
|
| 1st perf. | First year of performing as a soloist at Vauxhall |
| Burney memoirs | Slava Klima, Garry Bowers, and Kerry S. Grant, Memoirs of Dr. Charles Burney 1726-.1769 (Lincoln and London: University of Nebraska Press, 1988 ) |
| CG | Covent Garden |
| DL | Drury Lane |
| KT | King's Theatre |
| Last Night . | The night Vauxhall closed for ever on.Monday 25 July, 1859 |
| Manning & Bray | Manning, Revd. Owen, and Bray, William, The History and Antiquities of the.County of Surrey, Vol. III of 3 (London: White, Cochrane & Co.,1804-14), p.489f. |
| MG | Marylebone Gardens |
| Minet | The Vauxhall Gardens archive at the Minet Library in Lambeth |
| Parke | William Thomas Parke, Musical Memoirs, 2 vols. London 1830 |
| PS | Philharmonic Society |
| RG | Ranelagh Gardens |
| Vauxhall Papers | Bunn, Alfred [ed], The Vauxhall Papers, 17 Parts (London: John Andrews & John Mitchell, July-August 1841) Illustrated by.Alfred Forrester (pseud. Crowquill) |
| VG | Vauxhall Gardens |
| Walford | Walford, Edward, Old and New London: A .Narrative of its History, its People and its Places .Vol. IV (London: Cassell Petter & Galpin, .n.d. 1873-8), pp.447-467 |
| Much
additional information from: S. Sadie [ed], The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, 4 Vols. (London,Macmillan, 1992) |
|
Singers
Miss Leary at Vauxhall (1793/4)
The Orchestra in 1778
A Daytime Duet 1840s