BALFE, balf, Michael William, British composer: b. Dublin, 15 May 1808; d. 20 Oct. 1870. He received his first instructions in music from his father and Charles Horn In his 7th year he perfortned one of Viotti's concertos before the public; at 16 he performed the part of Caspar in (Der Freiscluite at Drury Lane. In 1825 he went to Italy, wrote the music for a ballet, (La Perouse,) for the Scala at Naples, and in the following year fulfilled an engage ment to sing at the Theatre des Italiens, Paris, with moderate success. He returned to Italy, and at Palermo (1830) his first opera, (I Rivali,) was produced. For five years, with somewhat careless haste, he continued singing and com posing sundry operas for the Italian stage, which are now forgotten. In 1835 he came to England and had his (Siege of Rochelle) brought out at Drury Lane. It hit the popular taste and was quickly followed by others equally successful in this respect. Part of this success
was no doubt due to the great artistes who took the leading characters, Malibran, Grisi, La blache, Rubini and other stars of that titne; but the works had high merits of their own, being marked by brilliancy, melody and fertility of invention. In 1846 he was appointed con ductor of the Italian opera at Her Majesty's Theatre, London. If Balfe was wanting m depth and dramatic force, he had a very thor ough knowledge of effects and conunand of orchestral resources; and his conipcditions are distinguished by fluency, facility and melodic. power. His operas continue popular in England and elsewhere, among the chief being 'The Bohemian Girl) (the most popular of all); (The Rose of Castile' ; (The Daughter of Saint Mark); and (Satanella.) His posthumous opera, (The Talisman,' was brought out in London in June 1874, with great success.