MICHAEL

See also:

• KELLY, EDWARD (1854–188o)
• KELLY, HUGH (1739–1777)
• MICHAEL KELLY (1762–1826)
• KELLY, SIR FITZROY (1796–1880)

KELLY (1762–1826)  , British actor, singer and composer, was the son of a Dublin wine-merchant and dancing-master . He had a musical education at home and in Italy, and for four years from 1783 was engaged to sing at the Court Theatre at Vienna, where he became a friend of Mozart . In 1786 he sang in the first performance of the Nozze di Figaro . Appearing in London, at Drury Lane in 1787, he had a great success, and thenceforth was the principal English tenor at that theatre . In 1793 he became acting-manager of the King's Theatre, and he was in great request at concerts . He wrote a number of songs (including " The Woodpecker"), and the music for many dramatic pieces, now fallen into oblivion . In 1826 he published his entertaining Reminiscences, in writing which he was helped by Theodore Hook . He combined his professional work with conducting a music-shop and a wine-shop, but with disastrous financial results . He died at Margate on the 9th of October 1826 .