Kelly, Michael, 1762-1826

Michael Kelly was born on December 25, 1762, in Dublin, Ireland.

He was an Irish tenor, composer, and theatrical manager. From a young age, he received a musical education (mainly voice and keyboard) from various Italian teachers. Later, he was sent to Dr. Burke’s Academy, where he met other distinguished musicians and made his stage debut in Dublin. In 1779, he began to take voice lessons in Italy and occasionally performed in theatres. As one of the leading figures in British musical theatre around the turn of the nineteenth century, he was a close associate of playwright and poet Richard Brinsley Sheridan. In 1783, Kelly travelled to Vienna, Austria. He became friends with musicians such as Mozart and Paisiello and created roles for the operas of both composers. He was one of the first tenors of that era from Britain and Ireland to become famous in Italy and Austria. In Italy he was also known as O'Kelly or even Signor Ochelli. Appearing in London at Drury Lane in 1787, Kelly enjoyed great success, becoming the principal English-language tenor at that theatre. In 1793, he became acting manager of the King's Theatre. In 1826, he published his entertaining “Reminiscences,” written with the assistance of Theodore Hook. He combined his professional work with conducting a music shop and a wine shop, with disastrous financial results, bankrupting in 1811.

He died on October 9, 1826, in Margate, England.