Balfe

(balf), Michael Wm., Dublin, 15, 1808—Rowney Abbey, Hertfordshire, Oct. 20, 1870; operatic composer; pupil of O’Rourke, Ireland, and C. F. Horn, London; 1824, violinist Drury Lane; also sang in London; went to Italy with his patron Mazzara, comp. with Fred eric i at Rome, and singing with F. Galli at Milan; his ballet ‘“‘Za Pérouse,’ prod. there (1826); pupil of Bordogni, and first barytone at the Ital. Opera, Paris (1828), and elsewhere till 1835; composed several Italian operas; m. the Hungarian singer Lina Rosen (1808 —London, 1888); he ret. to England 1835, and prod. ‘‘The Siege ef Rochelle”’ (Drury Lane); failed as manager; to Paris, returned 1843,° and prod. ‘‘The Bohemian Girl,” very succe ful everywhere; prod. Paris, 1850, in 5-act version as ‘‘La Bohémienne.” In 1857, his daughter Victorie made her début in Italian opera; 1864, he retired to his countryseat, Rowney Abbey; he composed 31 operas in all, including “‘The Rose Castile’ (1857); ‘‘Satanella’s (1858); ‘Il Talismano” (1874); biog. by C. L. Kenny (London, 1878), and W. A. Barrett (do. 1882).