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The Worlds of Gilbert and Sullivan

Michael William Balfe was born in Balfe Street, Dublin (coincidence?) in 1808, and died in 1870 in Rowney Abbey, Hertfordshire. In between he was a prolific composer, world famous baritone, and violinist. He sang many of the great baritone roles in Paris, Berlin, St Petersburg and La Scala Milan - including Figaro in Rossini's Il Barbiere de Siviglia, and Papageno in Mozart's Die Zauberflote. He was also conductor of opera at His Majesty's Theatre London from 1845-52.

However, he will long be remembered for his popular compositions including Killarney and Come Into The Garden Maud (words by Alfred Lord Tennyson); and his famous operetta The Bohemian Girl. He was the foremost composer of his day, rivalled only by Arthur Sullivan later in the century.

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