Arthur Seguin (full name Arthur Edward Sheldon Seguin; 7 April 1809 – 13 December 1852)[1] was an English operatic bass singer. He appeared in opera houses in London in the 1830s; from 1838 he lived in America, appearing in New York and touring the USA and Canada.
Authur Edward Seguin
Early life and careeredit
Seguin was born in London on 7 April 1809. His father, Ralph Arthur Seguin (1781/2–1865), was for many years secretary at Her Majesty's Theatre; his mother was Sarah née Smythe. He was of Irish descent.[2] He was educated at the Royal Academy of Music, from which he narrowly escaped dismissal for some youthful breaches of discipline in 1827. In that year he came into prominence by his singing at a students' public concert in the Hanover Square Rooms. His performance of the part of Basilio in Rossini's The Barber of Seville, at the first dramatic performance of the Royal Academy of Music on 8 December 1828, was warmly praised by the press. On 6 November 1830 he was in the academy's production of Lord Burghersh's opera Catherine, Ann Childe (who subsequently became his wife) filling the title-role.[3] A reviewer wrote: "... in the concerted pieces... his fine sonorous bass came in with a charming effect."[4]
In that year he left England for America, where he first appeared as the Count in Rooke's Amilie, or the Love Test on 15 October at the National Theatre, New York. In America he founded an operatic company, The Seguin Troupe, which toured successfully in the United States and Canada,[3] including in the summer of 1840 a season of opera at the Theatre Royal in Montreal, Canada.[7]
A concert given by Anna Bishop at the Tripler Hall, New York in 1850 was reviewed: "Mr Seguin sang the two great bass songs from the Creation, in pure and classical style. He has a grand voice, a true basso profondo, rich, deep, flowing.... We have but one fault to find in him — he lacks somewhat in fire...."[8]
Seguin is said to have been elected a chief by an Indian tribe, an honour he shared with Edmund Kean.[citation needed] He died in New York in 1852. His was described as "one of the finest bass voices ever heard" (The Athenæum, 1853, page 115), and he was also noted as a comic actor.[3]
Notes and referencesedit
^Spelled "Sheldon" in online DNB, "Shelden" in 1897 DNB. Dates as in online DNB; 1897 DNB has death date 9 December 1852.
^"Seguin, Arthur Edward Sheldon". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/25047. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^Performance history in vocal score of Fidelio. Boosey and Co, 19th century.
^Balfe's The Maid of Artois (1836) Victoria Opera Northwest. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
^Music at Theatre Royal Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
^"Madame Anna Bishop at Tripler Hall". Saroni's Musical Times. 2 (6): 58–59. 2 November 1850 – via RIPM.
Attribution
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Legge, Robin Humphrey (1897). "Seguin, Arthur Edward Shelden". In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 51. London: Smith, Elder & Co. pp. 208–209.
January 01, 1970
arthur, seguin, full, name, arthur, edward, sheldon, seguin, april, 1809, december, 1852, english, operatic, bass, singer, appeared, opera, houses, london, 1830s, from, 1838, lived, america, appearing, york, touring, canada, authur, edward, seguinearly, life, . Arthur Seguin full name Arthur Edward Sheldon Seguin 7 April 1809 13 December 1852 1 was an English operatic bass singer He appeared in opera houses in London in the 1830s from 1838 he lived in America appearing in New York and touring the USA and Canada Authur Edward SeguinEarly life and career editSeguin was born in London on 7 April 1809 His father Ralph Arthur Seguin 1781 2 1865 was for many years secretary at Her Majesty s Theatre his mother was Sarah nee Smythe He was of Irish descent 2 He was educated at the Royal Academy of Music from which he narrowly escaped dismissal for some youthful breaches of discipline in 1827 In that year he came into prominence by his singing at a students public concert in the Hanover Square Rooms His performance of the part of Basilio in Rossini s The Barber of Seville at the first dramatic performance of the Royal Academy of Music on 8 December 1828 was warmly praised by the press On 6 November 1830 he was in the academy s production of Lord Burghersh s opera Catherine Ann Childe who subsequently became his wife filling the title role 3 A reviewer wrote in the concerted pieces his fine sonorous bass came in with a charming effect 4 Early in 1831 he sang Polyphemus in a stage representation of Handel s Acis and Galatea at the Queen s Theatre Tottenham Street under the management of George Macfarren In 1832 Seguin was engaged at Drury Lane where he appeared with Maria Malibran in Bellini s La Sonnambula and during the two following years and from 1835 to 1837 he sang at Covent Garden His performance of Masetto in the revival of Mozart s Don Giovanni in February 1833 was successful 3 and in 1835 he was in Beethoven s Fidelio as Rocco 5 In May 1836 appearing with Maria Malibran he created the role of Synnelet in Balfe s The Maid of Artois at Drury Lane 6 and in August 1838 he created the part of the baron in George Alexander Macfarren s The Devil s Opera at the English Opera House 3 America editIn that year he left England for America where he first appeared as the Count in Rooke s Amilie or the Love Test on 15 October at the National Theatre New York In America he founded an operatic company The Seguin Troupe which toured successfully in the United States and Canada 3 including in the summer of 1840 a season of opera at the Theatre Royal in Montreal Canada 7 A concert given by Anna Bishop at the Tripler Hall New York in 1850 was reviewed Mr Seguin sang the two great bass songs from the Creation in pure and classical style He has a grand voice a true basso profondo rich deep flowing We have but one fault to find in him he lacks somewhat in fire 8 Seguin is said to have been elected a chief by an Indian tribe an honour he shared with Edmund Kean citation needed He died in New York in 1852 His was described as one of the finest bass voices ever heard The Athenaeum 1853 page 115 and he was also noted as a comic actor 3 Notes and references edit Spelled Sheldon in online DNB Shelden in 1897 DNB Dates as in online DNB 1897 DNB has death date 9 December 1852 Seguin Arthur Edward Sheldon Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 25047 Subscription or UK public library membership required a b c d e Legge Robin Humphrey 1897 Seguin Arthur Edward Shelden In Lee Sidney ed Dictionary of National Biography Vol 51 London Smith Elder amp Co pp 208 209 Pages 515 516 The New Monthly Magazine 1830 Performance history in vocal score of Fidelio Boosey and Co 19th century Balfe s The Maid of Artois 1836 Victoria Opera Northwest Retrieved 16 March 2018 Music at Theatre Royal Canadian Encyclopedia Retrieved 16 March 2018 Madame Anna Bishop at Tripler Hall Saroni s Musical Times 2 6 58 59 2 November 1850 via RIPM Attribution nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Legge Robin Humphrey 1897 Seguin Arthur Edward Shelden In Lee Sidney ed Dictionary of National Biography Vol 51 London Smith Elder amp Co pp 208 209 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Arthur Seguin amp oldid 1144627914, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
