A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Harrison, William

HARRISON, William, born in Marylebone parish, 1813. Being gifted with a tenor voice of remarkable purity and sweetness, he appeared in public as an amateur concert singer early in 1836. He then entered as a pupil at the Royal Academy of Music, and in 1837 appeared as a professional singer at the concerts of the Academy, and subsequently at the Sacred Harmonic Society. On Thursday, May 2, 1839, he made his first appearance on the stage at Covent Garden, in Rooke's opera, 'Henrique.' A few years later he was engaged at Drury Lane, where he sustained the principal tenor parts in Balfe's 'Bohemian Girl,' Wallace's 'Maritana,' and Benedict's 'Brides of Venice,' and 'Crusaders,' on their first production. In 1851 he performed at the Haymarket Theatre, in Mendelssohn's 'Son and Stranger,' and other operas. In 1856, in conjunction with Miss Louisa Pyne, he established an English Opera Company, and for several years gave performances at the Lyceum, Drury Lane, and Covent Garden Theatres. During their management the following new operas were produced: Balfe's 'Rose of Castille' 1857, 'Satanella' 1858, 'Bianca, the Bravo's Bride' 1860; 'Puritan's Daughter' 1861, and 'Armourer of Nantes,' 1863; Wallace's 'Lurline,' 1860, and 'Love's Triumph' 1862; Benedict's 'Lily of Killarney' 1862; Mellon's 'Victorine' 1859; and Howard Glover's 'Ruy Blas' 1861. In the winter of 1864 Harrison opened Her Majesty's Theatre for the performance of English operas. He translated Masses operetta, 'Les Noces de Jeannette,' and produced it at Covent Garden Theatre in Nov. 1860, under the title of 'Georgette's Wedding.' Harrison, in addition to his vocal qualifications, was an excellent actor. He died at his residence in Kentish Town, Nov. 9, 1868.

[ W. H. H. ]