Description

CHARLES SANTLEY (LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND 28 FEBRUARY 1834 – LONDON, ENGLAND 22 SEPTEMBER 1922)

He was a choir boy and then performed as an amateur singer. Since 1855 he studied first with Gaetano Nava in Milan, then with Manuel Garcia in London. In 1857 he was heard for the first time in London as soloist in J. Haydn’s “Creation”. He made his debut on stage at Pavia City Theater in 1857 as Dr. Grenvil in “La Traviata”. Guest appearances on leading stages in Italy, England and France brought him the first successes. He has appeared in particular at the Grand Opéra in Paris and the London Covent Garden Opera. Here he appeared in 1859 as Hoël in the English premiere of the opera “Dinorah” by G. Meyerbeer (with Mme Miolan-Carvalho as partner), on February 23, 1860 in the premiere of the opera “Lurline” by Vincent Wallace, on November 30. 1861 in “The Puritan’s Daughter” by Michael Balfe, on 8. 2. 1862 in “The Lily of Killarney” by Julius Benedict (in the part of Danny Man). In 1863 he sang the role of Valentin at the Her Majesty’s Theater in London in the English premiere of C. Gounod’s “Faust” in the presence of the composer. After this performance, Gounod composed for him the prayer of Valentin “Avant de quitter ces lieux”, which does not appear in the opera’s original score and has not been sung in Paris until today. In 1864 he participated in the same theater in the English premieres of the operas “Mireille” by C. Gounod and “The Merry Wives of Windsor” by Nicolai (in Italian). In 1870 he sang the title character in the English premiere of R. Wagner’s at the Drury Lane Theater in London In 1907 he was ennobled by King Edward VII as “Sir Charles Santley” (for his 50th anniversary as a singer). In 1911 he gave his farewell performance in “The Waterman” by C. Dibdin at the Covent Garden Opera in London. He has written several self-biographical writings (Student and Singer, London 1892; Reminiscence of my Life, London, 1909). Further Lit .: J.Mewburn Levien: “Sir Charles Santley” (London, 1930) .His daughter Edith Santley began a very successful career as a concert singer (soprano), which she gave up entirely after her marriage in 1884.

TRACKLIST

1. Father O’Flynn (arr Stanford) 373 6115 Columbia, London 1913
2. Nozze di Figaro (Mozart) Non più andrai 052000 187c G&T, London 1903-06-10
3. Simon the Cellarer (Hatton) 2-2862 3860b G&T, London 1903-06-08
4. Simon the Cellarer (Hatton) 373 6113 Columbia, London 1913
5. The Rosary (Nevin) (w. piano) 360 6114 Columbia, London 1913
6. The Rosary (Nevin) (w. piano) 360 6114 Columbia, London 1922
7. The Vicar of Bray (Watson) 2-2863 3861b G&T, London 1903-06-08
8. Thou’rt passing hence, my brother (Sullivan) 02015 188c G&T, London 1903-06-10
9. To Anthea (Hatton) 2-2864 3862b G&T, London 1903-06-08
10. To Anthea (Hatton) 360 6283 Columbia, London 1913