Thomas Welsh (c. 1780 - 24 or 31 January 1848) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national id ...

composer and

opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a libre ...

tic

bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in the bass range: ** Bass (instrument), including: ** Acoustic bass gu ...

. Welsh spent most of his life in

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

and is now particularly remembered for his light-hearted stage works.Opera Glass
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Life

The son of John Welsh, by his wife, a daughter of

Thomas Linley the elder Thomas Linley (17 January 1733 – 19 November 1795) was an English bass and musician active in Bath, Somerset. Born in Badminton, Gloucestershire, Linley began his musical career after he moved to Bath at age 11 and became apprentice to the or ...

, he was born at

Wells, Somerset Wells () is a cathedral city and civil parish in the Mendip district of Somerset, located on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills, south-east of Weston-super-Mare, south-west of Bath and south of Bristol. Although the population recor ...

. He became a chorister in

Wells Cathedral Wells Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in Wells, Somerset, England, dedicated to St Andrew the Apostle. It is the seat of the Bishop of Bath and Wells, whose cathedra it holds as mother church of the Diocese of Bath and Wells. Built as a ...

, where his singing notice;

Richard Brinsley Sheridan Richard Brinsley Butler Sheridan (30 October 17517 July 1816) was an Irish satirist, a politician, a playwright, poet, and long-term owner of the London Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. He is known for his plays such as ''The Rivals'', ''The S ...

heard of him, and induced Linley to engage him for

oratorio An oratorio () is a large musical composition for orchestra, choir, and soloists. Like most operas, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an instrumental ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias. However, opera is mus ...

performances at the

Haymarket Theatre The Theatre Royal Haymarket (also known as Haymarket Theatre or the Little Theatre) is a West End theatre on Haymarket in the City of Westminster which dates back to 1720, making it the third-oldest London playhouse still in use. Samuel Foot ...

, London, in 1796. Engagements followed for the stage, in course of which he sang in many operas, some of which, such as Thomas Attwood's ''Prisoner'', were written specially to exhibit his powers. He was also brought into notice as an actor, mainly through the influence of Kemble. Meanwhile he was completing a musical education under

Karl Friedrich Horn Charles Frederick Horn (24 February 1762 – 3 August 1830) was an English musician and composer. Born in Germany, he emigrated to London with few possessions and no knowledge of the English language, yet rose to become a music teacher in the ...

Johann Baptist Cramer Johann (sometimes John) Baptist Cramer (24 February 1771 – 16 April 1858) was an English pianist, composer and music publisher of German origin. He was the son of Wilhelm Cramer, a famous London violinist and conductor, one of a numerous family ...

, and Baumgarten. He produced two farces at the Lyceum Theatre, and an opera, ''Kamskatka'', at Covent Garden, and ultimately settled down to his main work, as a teacher of singing. He had great success with his pupils, among whom were

Charles Edward Horn Charles Edward Horn (21 June 1786 – 21 October 1849) was an English composer and singer. Life and career Horn was born in St Martin-in-the-Fields, London, to Charles Frederick Horn and his wife, Diana Dupont. He was the eldest of their seve ...

, Catherine Stephens,

Jane Shirreff Jane Shirreff (1808-1883) was a British soprano opera singer and stage actress. She was described as America's "most admired prima donna between the days of Mrs. Wood and those of Louisa Pyne". Early life and education As a young woman, Shir ...

, and Mary Anne Wilson, who became his wife, and sang in many important concerts. He died at Brighton on 24 January 1848. In addition to dramatic pieces, he wrote some sonatas for piano (1819), songs, part-songs, glees and duets, and a ‘Vocal Instructor,’ London 825

Stage works

* ''Twenty Years Ago!'' ('musical play', 21 July 1810,

, Lyceum Theatre) * ''The Green-eyed Monster'' (or ''How to Get Your Money'') ('operatic farce', 14 October 1811, London, Lyceum Theatre) * ''Kamtchatka'' (or ''The Slave's Tribute'') ('musical play', 16 October 1811, London, Covent Garden) * ''Up to Town'' ('comic opera', 6 November 1811, London,

Covent Garden Covent Garden is a district in London, on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit-and-vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist sit ...

) (collaborative composition with William Reeve, Condell, Whitaker) * ''For England, Ho!'' ('melodramatic opera', 15 December 1813, London, Covent Garden) (collaborative composition with Henry Bishop) * ''Is He Jealous?'' ('operetta', 2 July 1816, London, Lyceum Theatre)

References

;Attribution English opera composers Male opera composers English classical composers 1848 deaths Year of birth uncertain English opera singers English basses Operatic basses English male classical composers {{UK-composer-stub