A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Mitchell, John

MITCHELL, John, deserves a place in these columns on account of his close connection with musical enterprise in London for many years. He was born there April 21, 1806, and died December 11, 1874. For a large part of his life he was one of the most prominent musical managers and agents in the metropolis. In 1837 he introduced opera buffa at the Lyceum Theatre; including Betly, L'Italiana in Algieri, Elisa e Claudio, and others, for the first time in England. In 1849 and 1850 he opened the St. James's Theatre with an excellent French company for comic opera, with Le Domino Noir, L'Ambassadrice, La Dame blanche, Zanetta, Richard Cœur de Lion, Le Chalet, and many other first-rate works. Of the French plays which he produced at the same theatre, with Rachel, Regnier, and many other great actors, through a long series of years, this is not the place to speak. In 1842 Rossini's 'Stabat Mater' was brought out under his direction for the first time in England. In 1853 he first brought over the Cologne Choir to England. Few men were better known than John Mitchell in all musical circles. Whatever he did was done as well as he could possibly do it, and he was esteemed and beloved as an honourable man of business and generous friend.

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