Michael Kelly (actor)

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Michael Kelly (1762 - October 9, 1826) was an Irish actor, singer and composer.

The son of a Dublin wine-merchant and dancingmaster, he had a musical education at home and in Italy, and for four years from 1783 was engaged to sing at the Court Theatre at Vienna, where he became a friend of Mozart. In 1786 he sang in the first performance of Le nozze di Figaro. Appearing in London, at Drury Lane in 1787, he had a great success, and thenceforth was the principal English tenor at that theatre. In 1793 he became acting-manager of the Kings Theatre, and he was in great request at concerts. His relationship with Anna Maria Crouch, whom he shared for a time with the Prince of Wales, added to his notoriety. Kelly wrote a number of songs (including "The Woodpecker"), and the music for many dramatic pieces, which have now fallen into oblivion. In 1826 he published his entertaining Reminiscences, in writing which he was helped by Theodore Hook. He combined his professional work with conducting a music-shop and a wine-shop, but with disastrous financial results. He died at Margate.

[edit] References

• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.