|
Maria Theresa Bland (1769–1838) was a British singer who enjoyed high popularity in the London theatre during the last decade of the 18th century and the first two decades of the 19th century. ==Life== Maria Bland, the daughter of Italian Jews, was born with the surname of Romanzini. The year of her birth is assumed to be historically correct, but as was common in the 18th century, the day and month went unrecorded. Her parents came to London soon after their daughter's birth, and in the spring of 1773, through the influence of a hairdresser named Cady, obtained an engagement for their child at Hughes's Riding School. Her vocal talent developed at a very early age, and after singing at the Royal Circus she was engaged by Daly for the Dublin Theatre, where she sang with great success. In 1782, on the retirement of Mary Ann Wrighten, she was engaged at Drury Lane Theatre to take her parts, which were those known as 'singing chambermaids.' Miss Romanzini's first appearance at Drury Lane took place pool, and sang there with such success, both on the stage and at concerts, that she refused to return to Drury Lane unless her salary were raised. The management declining to grant her request, after waiting a few weeks, she came back to London and resumed her place at Drury Lane. Mrs. Bland remained attached to the Drury Lane company for the greater part of her life, but she also sang at the Haymarket Theatre under Colman's management, where her first appearance took place in 1791, as Wowski in Arnold's 'Inkle and Yarico.' She also sang for several seasons at Vauxhall Gardens. In 1824, she began to exhibit symptoms of imbecility, which developed into a kind of melancholy. On 5 July 1824 a performance was given for her benefit at Drury Lane, which produced (together with a public subscription) about 800''l''. The money was handed over to Lord Egremont, who allowed her an annuity of 80''l''. She lived for the rest of her life with a family named Western, at the Broadway, Westminster, where she died of a fit of apoplexy on 15 Jan. 1838. She was buried at St. Margaret's, Westminster, on 25 Jan. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Maria Bland」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|