A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Phillips, Henry

PHILLIPS, Henry, born in Bristol, Aug. 13, 1801, was the son of a country actor and manager, and made his first appearance in public as a singing boy at the Harrogate Theatre about 1807. He afterwards came to London and sang in the chorus at Drury Lane and elsewhere. On the settlement of his voice as a baritone he placed himself under the tuition of Broadhurst, and was engaged in the chorus at the English Opera House, and to sing in glees at civic dinners. He next had an engagement at Bath, where he sang in 'Messiah' with success. Returning to London he studied under Sir George Smart and appeared in the Lenten oratorios at the theatres. In 1824 he was engaged at Covent Garden and appeared as Artabanes in Arne's 'Artaxerxes,' but made little mark. In the summer of the same year he sang the music of Caspar on the production of 'Der Freischütz' with great effect. He then made progress, was engaged at the provincial festivals, and in 1825 appointed principal bass at the Concert of Ancient Music, and from that time filled the first place at the theatre and in the concert-room. He was also a member of the choir at the chapel of the Bavarian Embassy. About 1843 he gave up his theatrical engagements and started a series of 'table entertainments,' which, notwithstanding their ill-success, he persisted in giving, at intervals, until he quitted public life. In August 1844 he went to America, and remained there, giving his entertainments in various places, for nearly a year. On his return to England he found that his place had been filled up by others, and it was some months before he regained his position. On Feb. 25, 1863 (his powers having been for some time on the wane) he gave a farewell concert and retired. He then became a teacher of singing, at first at Birmingham, and afterwards in the vicinity of London. He died at Dalston, Nov. 8, 1876. He composed several songs, etc., and was author of 'The True Enjoyment of Angling,' 1843, and 'Musical and Personal Recollections during half a century,' 1864. Phillips was heard to the best advantage in the songs of Handel and Purcell, and the oratorio songs of Haydn, Mendelssohn, and Spohr. On the stage he was most successful in ballads. In the comic operas of Mozart and Rossini he failed to create any impression.

[ W. H. H. ]