Mary Anne à Beckett was an English

English people

The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...

 composer, primarily known for opera.

Biography

Mary Anne à Beckett (née Glossop) was 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...

, the eldest daughter of Joseph Glossop, and sang at private gatherings. She married Gilbert Abbott à Beckett

Gilbert Abbott à Beckett

Gilbert Abbott à Beckett was an English humorist.He was born in London, the son of a lawyer, and belonged to a family claiming descent from Thomas Becket...

, a writer and magistrate. She composed the opera Agnes Sorrel for Henry Braham, a well-known tenor and builder of the St. James Theater, and her husband furnished the book. Mary Anne à Beckett was asked to conduct the orchestra for the premiere, but she declined the public appearance. She died 11 December 1863 in London.

Works

À Beckett composed songs, waltzes and three 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...

:

• The Young Pretender
• Agnes Sorrel (operatic farce), 1835
• Little Red Riding Hood, 1842