Short bio Michael William Balfe
Full biography Michael William Balfe
Michael William Balfe (1808-1870) was an Irish composer and singer who is best known for his operas , particularly "The Bohemian Girl." He was born in Dublin, Ireland, and began his musical career at a young age as a violinist at the oratorios at Drury Lane in London. He studied with famous opera composer and conductor Luigi Cherubini in Paris and went on to write his first opera, "The Siege of Rochelle," in 1835.
His most successful opera was "The Bohemian Girl," which premiered in 1843 in London and became one of the most popular operas of the 19th century. The opera is known for its melodious and memorable tunes, particularly the aria "I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Halls," and is still performed today.
In addition to his operas, Balfe wrote almost 250 songs, as well as other works including chamber music and a piano concerto. He was admired by many of his contemporaries, including Charles Dickens, who wrote a eulogy for Balfe after his death.
Balfe's legacy as a composer has endured over the years, and his music and operas continue to be performed and celebrated. His contributions to English language opera were significant, and he was an important figure in the development of the genre in 19th-century Britain.
Compositions featuring Michael William Balfe
| # | Name | Duration | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cello Sonata in A flat major | 16:27 min | Chamber Music | 1886 |
| 2 | Il Talismano, opera | Opera | 1870 | |
| 3 | The Puritan's Daughter, opera | Opera | 1861 | |
| 4 | Satanella (The Power of Love), opera | 111:27 min | Opera | 1858 |
| 5 | The Rose of Castile, opera | Opera | 1857 | |
| 6 | Bohemian Girl, opera | Opera | 1843 | |
| 7 | Falstaff, opera | 143:04 min | Opera | 1838 |
| 8 | The Maid of Artois, opera | Opera | 1836 | |
| 9 | Old friends, for voice & piano | 2:47 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 10 | Malibran's Favorite Aria, for oboe & piano | 6:12 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 11 | Sempre pensoso e torbido, cantata | 9:06 min | Choral | - |
| 12 | Sventurata ildegonda... Chiuso nell'armi e splendido, insertion aria (for Marliani's Ildegonda nel Carcere) | 9:14 min | Opera | - |
| 13 | The blighted flower, ballad for voice & piano | 3:35 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 14 | The green trees whispered, for voice & piano | 3:39 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 15 | The Light of Other Days, song for voice & guitar | 2:54 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 16 | The lonely rose, for voice & piano | 2:46 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 17 | The Sands of Dee, for voice & piano | 3:05 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 18 | The Siege of la Rochelle, opera | Opera | - | |
| 19 | Then You'll Remember Me, song for voice & guitar | 2:50 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 20 | Those we love, for voice & piano | 2:53 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 21 | Trust Her Not | 4:18 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 22 | When I beheld the anchor weigh'd, for voice & piano | 3:33 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 23 | I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Halls, aria (from "The Bohemian Girl") | 3:48 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 24 | A merry little savoyard, for voice & piano | 2:28 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 25 | Ah! Would that I could love thee less, for voice & piano | 2:55 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 26 | Annie Laurie | 2:34 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 27 | Come into the Garden, Maud for voice & piano | 3:59 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 28 | Dids't thou but know (Si tu savais), for voice & piano | 3:16 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 29 | Don't let the roses listen, for voice & piano | 2:55 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 30 | Falling river, for voice & piano | 2:52 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 31 | Hopeful heart should banish care, for voice & piano | 4:47 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 32 | O take me to thy heart again, for voice & piano | 2:55 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 33 | I'd rather be a village maid, for voice & piano | 3:09 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 34 | I'm a merry Zingara, for voice & piano | 3:36 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 35 | Killarney, for voice & piano | 3:15 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 36 | Le Crépuscule, for voice & piano | 4:06 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 37 | Le puits d'amour, opera | Opera | - | |
| 38 | A home in the heart, for voice & piano | 3:18 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 39 | O smile as thou wert wont to smile, for voice & piano | 2:58 min | Vocal Music | - |
Albums featuring Michael William Balfe
| # | Сover | Name album | Year | Music label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Michael William Balfe - Victorian Opera Orchestra, Richard Bonynge – Satanella(2×CD, Album) | 2016 | Naxos |
| 2 |  |
Michael Balfe, Roger Quilter, Edgar Bainton, Rosalind Ellicott, Walter MacFarren, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Joseph Spooner, Michael Jones (72), Kathryn Mosley – Romantics In England. Music For Cello & Piano(CD, Compilation) | 2009 | Dutton Digital |
| 3 |  |
John McCormack (2), Wagner, Méhul, Balfe, Herbert, Novello, Fritz Kreisler – 1916-18 Acoustic Recordings(CD, ) | 2008 | Naxos Historical |
| 4 |  |
John McCormack (2), Tosti, Balfe, Hadley, Kreisler, Moszkowski – The Acoustic Recordings (1915-1916)(CD, Compilation) | 2008 | Naxos Historical |
| 5 |  |
John McCormack (2), Schubert, Verdi, Mascagni, Puccini, Foster, Balfe, Wallace – The Acoustic Recordings (1914-1915)(CD, Compilation) | 2007 | Naxos Historical |
| 6 |  |
Michael William Balfe, Sir Edward Elgar, Frederick Delius, Percy Grainger, Sir Hamilton Harty, Peter Warlock, Lord Berners, Gustav Holst, Ralph Vaughan Williams – Lyrita Classics: Elgar/Delius/Grainger/Warlock/Holst/Vaughan Williams(CD, Compilation) | 2007 | Lyrita Recorded Edition |
| 7 |  |
Michael William Balfe, Nova Thomas, Patrick Power, Jonathan Summers, Bernadette Cullen, John Del Carlo, Timothy German, Irish National Symphony Orchestra, Richard Bonynge – The Bohemian Girl(2×CD, Album, Stereo) | 2002 | Decca |
| 8 |  |
Balfe, National Symphony Orchestra Of Ireland, Richard Bonynge – The Bohemian Girl | 1991 | Argo (2) |
| 9 |  |
Elizabeth Wheeler / Harry Macdonough ; Balfe – Bohemian Girl: I Dreamt I Dwelt In Marble Halls / Then You'll Remember Me | 1912 | Victor |
| 10 |  |
Balfe, Wallace, Benedict – Highlights From The Bohemian Girl, Maritana, The Lily Of Killarney(Cassette, ) | - | EMI |
| 11 |  |
Balfe - Gordon MacRae, Dorothy Kirsten – The Bohemian Girl (Impression)(File, MP3) | - | Old Time Radio Downloads |
| 12 |  |
Gala Opera Group, Michael William Balfe – The Daughter Of St. Mark(2×LP, Album) | - | Rare Recorded Editions |
| 13 |  |
The Bohemian Girl(3×LP, Stereo) | - | Voce |
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