Balfe Michael William Balfe

Michael William Balfe (15 May 1808 – 20 October 1870) was an Irish composer, best-remembered for his opera The Bohemian Girl.

After a short career as a violinist, Balfe pursued an operatic singing career, while he began to compose. In a career spanning more than 40 years, he composed at least 29 operas, almost 250 songs and other works. He was also a noted conductor, directing Italian Opera at Her Majesty's Theatre for seven years, among other conducting posts.

Selected compositions

Operas, with first performances

• I rivali di se stessi (A. Alcozer), Palermo: Teatro Carolino, 29 June 1829
• Un avvertimento ai gelosi (G. Foppa), Pavia: Teatro Condomini, 11 May 1831
• Enrico IV al passo della Marna (unknown librettist), Milan: Teatro Carcano, 19 February 1833
• The Siege of Rochelle (Edward Fitzball), London: Theatre Royal Drury Lane, 29 October 1835
  • Austrian version: Die Belagerung von Rochelle (Josef Kupelwieser), Vienna: Theater an der Wien, 24 October 1846
• The Maid of Artois (Alfred Bunn), London: Theatre Royal Drury Lane, 27 May 1836
• Catherine Grey (George Linley), London: Theatre Royal Drury Lane, 27 May 1837
• Joan of Arc (Edward Fitzball), London: Theatre Royal Drury Lane, 30 November 1837
• Diadeste, or The Veiled Lady (Edward Fitzball), London: Theatre Royal Drury Lane, 17 May 1838
• Falstaff (S.F. Maggione), London: His Majesty's Theatre (Italian Opera), 19 July 1838
• Keolanthe (Edward Fitzball), London Theatre Royal (English Opera House), 9 March 1841
  • Austrian version: Keolanthe, oder Das Traumbild (Karl Gollmick), Vienna: Theater am Kärntnertor, 3 December 1853
• Le Puits d'amour (Eugène Scribe and A. de Leuven), Paris: Opéra Comique, 20 April 1843
  • English version: Geraldine, or The Lover's Well, London: Princess Theatre, 14 August 1843
  • Austrian version: Der Liebesbrunnen (Josef Kupelwieser), Vienna: Theater an der Wien, 4 November 1845
• The Bohemian Girl (Alfred Bunn), London: Theatre Royal Drury Lane, 27 November 1843
  • Austrian version: Die Zigeunerin (Josef Kupelwieser), Vienna: Theater an der Wien, 24 July 1846
  • French version: La Bohemienne (J.H. Vernoy de Saint Georges), Rouen: Théâtre des Arts, 23 April 1862; revised version: Paris: Théâtre Lyrique, 30 December 1869
• Les Quatre fils Aymon (A. de Leuven and L.L. Brunswick), Paris: Opéra Comique, 15 July 1844
  • English version: The Castle of Aymon (G.A. Beckett), London: Princess Theatre, 20 November 1844
  • Austrian version: Die vier Haimonskinder (Josef Kupelwieser), Vienna: Josefstadt-Theater, 14 December 1844
  • Italian version (for London): I quattro fratelli (S.F. Maggione), London: His Majesty's Theatre (Italian Opera), 11 August 1851
• The Daughter of St. Mark (Alfred Bunn), London: Theatre Royal Drury Lane, 27 November 1844
• The Enchantress (J.H. Vernoy de Saint Georges), London: Theatre Royal Drury Lane, 14 May 1845
• L'étoile de Seville (Hippolyte Lucas), Paris: Opéra, 17 December 1845
• The Bondman (Alfred Bunn), London: Theatre Royal Drury Lane, 11 December 1846
  • German version: Der Mulatte (Johann Christoph Grünbaum), Berlin: Königliches Schauspielhaus, 25 January 1850
• The Maid of Honour (Edward Fitzball), London: Theatre Royal Drury Lane, 20 December 1847
• The Sicilian Bride (J.H. Vernoy de Saint Georges, transl. by A. Bunn), London: Theatre Royal Drury Lane, 6 March 1852
• The Devil's in it (Alfred Bunn), London: Surrey Theatre, 26 July 1852
• Pittore e Duca (F.M. Piave), Trieste: Teatro Grande, 21 November 1854
  • English version: Moro, the Painter of Antwerp (William Alexander Barrett), London: Her Majesty's Theatre, 28 January 1882
• The Rose of Castille (A. Harris and Edmund Falconer), London: Lyceum Theatre, 29 October 1857
• Satanella, or The Power of Love (A. Harris and Edmund Falconer), London: Royal English Opera Covent Garden, 20 December 1858
• Bianca, the Bravo's Bride (J. Palgrave Simpson), London: Royal English Opera Covent Garden, 6 December 1860
• The Puritan's Daughter (J.V. Bridgeman), London: Royal English Opera Covent Garden, 30 November 1861
• The Armourer of Nantes (J.V. Bridgeman), London: Royal English Opera Covent Garden, 12 February 1863
• Blanche de Nevers (J. Brougham), London: Royal English Opera Covent Garden, 21 November 1863
• The Sleeping Queen (H.B. Farnie), London: Royal Gallery of Illustrations, 31 August 1864
• Il talismano (Arthur Matthison, Italian transl. by Giuseppe Zaffira), London: Theatre Royal Drury Lane, 11 June 1874