A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Lowe, Thomas

LOWE, Thomas, favourite tenor singer, made his first appearance on any stage at Drury Lane, Sept. 11, 1740, as Sir John Loverule in 'The Devil to pay'; Oct. 17 he performed Macheath, and Dec. 20 had the distinction of being the original singer of Arne's beautiful songs, 'Under the greenwood tree' and 'Blow, blow, thou winter wind' in 'As You Like It.' He was the original singer of the following parts in Handel's oratorios;—Priest of Dagon and Israelitish Man in 'Samson,' 1742; First Elder in 'Susanna,' 1743; Joshua, 1746; Zadok in 'Solomon,' 1749; and Septimius in 'Theodora,' 1750. In 1745 and several subsequent years he sang at Vauxhall Gardens, and in 1763 became lessee and manager of Marylebone Gardens, and continued so until 1768, when an unsuccessful season compelled him in Feb. 1769 to assign his interest in the place to trustees for the benefit of his creditors. His powers beginning to fail he was compelled to accept engagements at Finch's Grotto Garden, Southwark, and similar places. In 1784 he was engaged at Sadlers' Wells. Lowe is said to have possessed a finer voice than Beard, but to have been inferior as musician and singer.

[ W. H. H. ]