Edward Jakobowski

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Edward Jakobowski (17 April 1856 – 29 April 1929) was an English composer best known for writing the comic opera Erminie.

Life and career

Jakobowski was born in Islington, London. At age six, he moved to Vienna, Austria, where he was given a musical education. In the late 1870s he moved to Paris for three years. In 1881, he returned to London.[1]

Jakobowski's most successful work by far, Erminie, opened in 1885 in London and was revived and toured internationally,[2] playing with extraordinary success on Broadway from 1886.[3] None of his other works had more than a short run or two. For two Victorian burlesques, The Three Beggars (1883) and Little Carmen (1884), Jakobowski used the pen name Edward Belville. His principal shows were Dick (1884, based on the story of Dick Whittington; libretto: Alfred Murray), The Lady of the Locket (1885), Erminie, The Palace of Pearl (1886), Mynheer Jan (1887; libretto: Paulton), Paola (1889; libretto: Paulton), La Rosiére (1893, in one act), The Queen of Brilliants (1894; libretto: Brandon Thomas, starring Lillian Russell), The Devil's Deputy (1894; libretto: J Cheever Goodwin), Milord Sir Smith (1898, originally titled Cumpano; libretto O'Day and Adrian Ross),[4] Tarantella (1899; libretto: Alfred Murray)[5] and Winsome Winnie (1903). He was one of eight composers who contributed to Pat in 1892.[6]

Two short operettas in 1893 with libretti by B. C. Stephenson, The Improvisatore and A Venetian Singer, made little impact.[7] Jakobowski was married twice, the second of which ended in divorce in 1901 after just two years.[8] In 1902, he was declared bankrupt with debts of £1,090 (£100,195 in 2014 adjusted for inflation)[ 1][9]

He died in Friern Barnet, north London, in 1929.[10]

Notes

  1. ↑ "Edward Jakobowski and Comic Opera", Kate Field's Washington, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 300–01, 17 January 1894, accessed 25 May 2012
  2. ↑ Information about UK and other productions of Erminie
  3. ↑ IBDB entry for the original New York run.
  4. ↑ "Campano; or The Wandering Minstrel", The Era, 10 September 1898, p. 12
  5. ↑ "Tarantella in Chicago; Edward Jakobowski's New Opera Presented Successfully There", The New York Times, 18 July 1899, p. 7, accessed 25 May 2012
  6. ↑ Scowcroft, Philip L. "A 109th Garland of British Light Music Composers", Classical MusicWeb, accessed 25 May 2012
  7. ↑ The Musical Times, September 1893, p. 549 and "Things Theatrical", The Sporting Times, 11 November 1893, p. 3
  8. ↑ "Theatrical Divorce Suit", Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette, 3 June 1899, p. 4
  9. ↑ "World's Survey", Western Times, 15 March 1902, p. 8
  10. ↑ General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes, London, England, April–June 1929, p. 376

References

  • Wearing, J. P. "Jakobowski, Edward [or Edouard]" in The London Stage, 1890–1899: A Calendar of Plays and Players, The Scarecrow Press (1976) ISBN 0-8108-0910-9

External links

  • [http://digital.nypl.org/lpa/max_milleimage2.cfm?bibid=658&subobjid=51578&thumbs=1&count=1&author=Jakobowski%2C%20Edward%2C%201858-%20Queen%20of%20brilliants. Photo of Lillian Russell in The Queen of Brilliants]
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