ELIZABETH

See also:

• ELIZABETH BILLINGTON (1768?–1818)

BILLINGTON (1768?–1818)  , British opera-singer, was born in London, her father being a German musician named Weichsel, and her mother a popular vocalist . She was trained in music, and at fourteen sang at a concert in Oxford . In 1783 'she married James Billington, a double-bass player . She had a voice of unusual compass, and as Rosetta in Love in a Village she had a great success at Covent Garden in 1786, being engaged for the season at a salary of £1000, a large sum for those days . Her position as a singer in London was now assured . In 1794 she and her husband went to Italy, and Mrs Billington appeared at Naples (where she was the heroine of a new opera, Inez di Castro, written for her by F . Bianchi), at Florence, at Venice and at Milan . Her husband died suddenly during the tour, and in 1799 she married a Frenchman named Felissent, whom, how-ever, she left in 18o1 . Returning to England she appeared alternately at Covent Garden and Drury Lane, her professional income during 18o1 amounting to between £1o,000 and £15,000 . Henceforward she sang in Italian opera till the end of 18io, when ill-health forced her to abandon her profession . In 1817 she was reconciled to her husband, and went with him to live near Venice, where she died on the 25th of August 1818 .