The dream of a madman : constructing the male opera singer in nineteenth-century Britain

In the nineteenth century, British men who sang continental opera found themselves in a uniquely problematic position. This is because opera had long been entangled in a web of negative ideas about music, performance, national identity, and gender. It was an art form that was seen as both foreign and effeminate – a profession for Italians, and not Englishmen. Nevertheless, over the course of the long nineteenth century, a handful of British men succeeded in clawing their way onto the operatic stage and establishing successful careers. This study focuses on the four men who were most successful: John Braham (1777-1856), Henry Phillips (1801- 1876), Sims Reeves (1821-1900), and Charles Santley (1834-1922). In order to succeed, these four men had to find methods through which they could present themselves to the public as respectable and professional British men. This thesis will argue that they did this in four key ways: negotiating their place within networks, forging a relationship with the Navy, capitalising on the rapidly expanding celebrity industry, and writing autobiographies. Their efforts proved remarkably successful. Over the course of the century, the cumulative efforts of these men gradually wore down negative attitudes towards their profession in Britain. By 1907 Charles Santley had become the first ever singer to be knighted in Britain – a development that would scarcely have been conceivable a decade earlier. Using a wide range of hitherto neglected sources, this thesis will demonstrate that Braham, Phillips, Reeves, and Santley were key cultural figures who were amongst the foremost celebrities of their age. It will argue that an understanding of these singers and their unusual careers can unlock an important new perspective on nineteenth-century culture.

Grantor dc:publisher

Oxford Brookes University

Year dc:date

2017

Author dc:creator

• Barry, Anna Maria

Contributors dc:contributor

• Wilson, Alexandra
• Payne, Christiana

Statement dc:rights

• All rights reserved

Language dc:language

en

DOI dc:identifier

https://doi.org/10.24384/kamr-dm87

OAI identifier oai:identifier

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