Elizabeth Billington
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Billington was a British
opera
singer born in London
, her father being a German
clarinetist named Carl Friedrich Weichsel (d. 1811), and her mother Fredericka Weichsel née Weirman (d. 1786), a popular singer. Her brother, Charles Weichsel (c. 1768–1850), was a talented violinist.
A pupil of her father, Johann Christian Bach
and Johann Samuel Schroeter (also spelled Schröter), she was considered as a child prodigy. At nine, on 10 March 1774, she played in a concert at the Haymarket Theatre
with her brother, aged six. Although this is probable but not proven, she was also reported to have published two sets of sonatas before she was twelve. She made her debuts as a concert singer in Oxford
, at the age of fourteen. On 13 October 1783 she married James Billington (1756–1794), a double-bass player.
She had a voice of unusual compass, and as Rosetta in Love in a Village she had a great success at Covent Garden
in 1786, being engaged for the season at a salary of 1000, a large sum in those days. Her position as a singer in London was now assured. In 1794 she and her husband went to Italy
, and Mrs Billington appeared at Naples
(where she was the heroine of a new opera, Inez di Castro, written for her by F. Bianchi), at Florence
, at Venice
and at Milan
. Her husband died suddenly during the tour, and in 1799 she married a Frenchman named Felissent, whom, however, she left in 1801.
Returning to England, she appeared alternately at Covent Garden and Drury Lane
, her professional income during 1801 amounting to between 10,000 and 15,000. Henceforward she sang in Italian opera until the end of 1810, when ill health forced her to abandon her profession. In 1817 she was reconciled to her husband, and went with him to live near Venice, where she died on 25 August 1818.
Haydn said of her, that Sir Joshua Reynolds
should rather have painted the angels listening to Mrs Billington singing, than have depicted, as he did, Mrs Billington listening to the angels.
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
singer born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, her father being a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
clarinetist named Carl Friedrich Weichsel (d. 1811), and her mother Fredericka Weichsel née Weirman (d. 1786), a popular singer. Her brother, Charles Weichsel (c. 1768–1850), was a talented violinist.
A pupil of her father, Johann Christian Bach
Johann Christian Bach
Johann Christian Bach was a composer of the Classical era, the eleventh and youngest son of Johann Sebastian Bach. He is sometimes referred to as 'the London Bach' or 'the English Bach', due to his time spent living in the British capital...
and Johann Samuel Schroeter (also spelled Schröter), she was considered as a child prodigy. At nine, on 10 March 1774, she played in a concert at the Haymarket Theatre
Haymarket Theatre
The Theatre Royal Haymarket is a West End theatre in the Haymarket in the City of Westminster which dates back to 1720, making it the third-oldest London playhouse still in use...
with her brother, aged six. Although this is probable but not proven, she was also reported to have published two sets of sonatas before she was twelve. She made her debuts as a concert singer in Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, at the age of fourteen. On 13 October 1783 she married James Billington (1756–1794), a double-bass player.
She had a voice of unusual compass, and as Rosetta in Love in a Village she had a great success at Covent Garden
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
in 1786, being engaged for the season at a salary of 1000, a large sum in those days. Her position as a singer in London was now assured. In 1794 she and her husband went to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and Mrs Billington appeared at Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
(where she was the heroine of a new opera, Inez di Castro, written for her by F. Bianchi), at Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, at Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
and at Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
. Her husband died suddenly during the tour, and in 1799 she married a Frenchman named Felissent, whom, however, she left in 1801.
Returning to England, she appeared alternately at Covent Garden and Drury Lane
Drury Lane
Drury Lane is a street on the eastern boundary of the Covent Garden area of London, running between Aldwych and High Holborn. The northern part is in the borough of Camden and the southern part in the City of Westminster....
, her professional income during 1801 amounting to between 10,000 and 15,000. Henceforward she sang in Italian opera until the end of 1810, when ill health forced her to abandon her profession. In 1817 she was reconciled to her husband, and went with him to live near Venice, where she died on 25 August 1818.
Haydn said of her, that Sir Joshua Reynolds
Joshua Reynolds
Sir Joshua Reynolds RA FRS FRSA was an influential 18th-century English painter, specialising in portraits and promoting the "Grand Style" in painting which depended on idealization of the imperfect. He was one of the founders and first President of the Royal Academy...
should rather have painted the angels listening to Mrs Billington singing, than have depicted, as he did, Mrs Billington listening to the angels.