[027702] (Ireland - Music - Autograph - Allan James Foli [Foley]). 1891 Autograph of Irish Opera Bass Singer
Allan James Foli (Foley) (1835 - 1899). England, UK: Autograph, "Yours faithfully
A.J. Foli London March 1891" Irish bass singer Allan James Foli (Foley)
(1835 - 1899) "... was born 7 August 1835 at Cahir, Co. Tipperary; nothing
is known of his family background. He was trained as a carpenter, but abandoned
this after it was discovered that he had an excellent singing voice. Moving to
Naples, he studied under Bisaccia, making his debut as Elmiro in Rossini's
‘Otello’ at Catania, Sicily, in December 1862. His strong bass voice won much
praise, and performances followed in Milan, Turin, and Paris...His repertoire
was extensive, more than sixty operas, and he sang the role of Daland in the
English premiere of Wagner's ‘Der fliegende Holländer’ (1870) which, according
to established London custom, was actually performed in Italian as ‘L'olandese
dannato’. He sang the title role in a successful Russian tour of Rossini's ‘Mosé’,
and also performed in the first English performances of Berlioz's ‘L'enfance du
Christ’ (1880), and Gonoud's ‘Redemption’ (1882)..." (Patrick M. Geoghegan
biography in the DIB) Approx. 3" x 3 3/4" size; old fold lines; album
mount paper on back; in very good condition.