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{{Short description|English violinist, conductor and composer}}
'''Alfred Mellon''' (born in [[Birmingham]], 1820, died March 1867), was an [[England|English]] [[violin|violinist]], [[conducting|conductor]] and [[composer]]. He played the violin in the opera and other orchestras, and afterwards became leader of the ballet at the Royal Italian Opera, [[Covent Garden]]. He was next director of the music at the Haymarket and Adelphi theatres, and subsequently conductor of the Pyne and Harrison English Opera Company, who in 1859 produced his opera, "Victorine", at Covent Garden; he was conductor of the Musical Society, and of the Promenade Concerts which for several seasons were given under his name at Covent Garden. In Sept. 1865 he was chosen conductor of the [[Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra|Liverpool Philharmonic Society]]. He married Miss Woolgar, the well-known actress.
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
'''Alfred Mellon''' (7 April 1820 – 24 March 1867) was a British violinist, conductor and composer.

[[Image:AlfredMellonBrompton01.jpg|thumb|right|Funerary monument, Brompton Cemetery, London]]
[[Image:AlfredMellonBrompton02.jpg|thumb|right|Funerary monument (detail)]]

Mellon was born in [[Birmingham]], to a French father.<ref name="Harman">{{cite q|Q66438509|page=184}}</ref> At the age of 12 he joined the band at the [[Theatre Royal, Birmingham|Theatre Royal]] in that town, becoming leader at 16 before moving to London in 1844.<ref name="Harman" /> He studied with [[Bernhard Molique]] in Stuttgart<ref>'Death of Mr Alfred Mellon', ''[[The Times]]'', 29 March 1867, p. 12.</ref> then returned to London to play the violin in the opera and other orchestras, and afterwards became leader of the ballet at the Royal Italian Opera, [[Covent Garden]]. Next, he was director of the music at the Haymarket and Adelphi theatres. He was subsequently conductor of the Pyne and Harrison English Opera Company, who in 1859 produced his opera, "Victorine", at Covent Garden. He was conductor of the Musical Society, and of the Promenade Concerts, which for several seasons were given under his name at Covent Garden. In September 1865, he was chosen conductor of the [[Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra|Liverpool Philharmonic Society]].

As a composer, Mellon wrote two operas - ''The Irish Dragoon'' (1845) and ''Victorine'' (1859), string quartets, piano pieces, glees (including 'Crown'd with clusters of the vine', 1850), ballads and songs for plays and farces.<ref>[https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/grovemusic/abstract/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000046377 Grove Music Online]</ref>

He married [[Sarah Woolgar]], a well-known actress on 28 July 1855. There were two daughters, the younger of which, Mary Woolgar Mellon, also became an actress.<ref>Oxford Dictionary of National Biography</ref> Mellon died at his home at The Vale, Chelsea, and is buried in [[Brompton Cemetery]], London. He was so well-known and respected that thousands attended his funeral.<ref>[https://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/brompton-cemetery/explore-brompton-cemetery/alfred-mellon Alfred Mellon: Brompton Cemetery]</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
* {{cite book

|title=A Dictionary of Music and Musicians, volume ii
==External links==
|first=George
* {{Internet Archive author |sname=Alfred Mellon}}
|last=Grove
* {{IMSLP|id=Mellon, Alfred}}
|location=London
* [https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp06306/alfred-mellon National Portrait Gallery]
|publisher=Macmillan
* [https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1403337 Tomb of Alfred Mellon, Brompton Cemetery]
|year=1880
|oclc= 19025639
|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=1U8oAAAAMAAJ
}} Article "Mellon, Alfred".
* {{grove1sted|Mellon, Alfred}}


{{RLPO conductors}}
{{RLPO conductors}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT|Mellon, Alfred}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mellon, Alfred}}
[[Category:1820 births]]
[[Category:1820 births]]
[[Category:1867 deaths]]
[[Category:1867 deaths]]
[[Category:English composers]]
[[Category:English composers]]
[[Category:English conductors]]
[[Category:English conductors (music)]]
[[Category:English male conductors (music)]]
[[Category:Burials at Brompton Cemetery]]
[[Category:19th-century British composers]]
[[Category:19th-century conductors (music)]]
[[Category:19th-century English musicians]]
[[Category:Musicians from Birmingham, West Midlands]]


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Latest revision as of 03:49, 2 April 2024

Alfred Mellon (7 April 1820 – 24 March 1867) was a British violinist, conductor and composer.

Funerary monument, Brompton Cemetery, London
Funerary monument (detail)

Mellon was born in Birmingham, to a French father.[1] At the age of 12 he joined the band at the Theatre Royal in that town, becoming leader at 16 before moving to London in 1844.[1] He studied with Bernhard Molique in Stuttgart[2] then returned to London to play the violin in the opera and other orchestras, and afterwards became leader of the ballet at the Royal Italian Opera, Covent Garden. Next, he was director of the music at the Haymarket and Adelphi theatres. He was subsequently conductor of the Pyne and Harrison English Opera Company, who in 1859 produced his opera, "Victorine", at Covent Garden. He was conductor of the Musical Society, and of the Promenade Concerts, which for several seasons were given under his name at Covent Garden. In September 1865, he was chosen conductor of the Liverpool Philharmonic Society.

As a composer, Mellon wrote two operas - The Irish Dragoon (1845) and Victorine (1859), string quartets, piano pieces, glees (including 'Crown'd with clusters of the vine', 1850), ballads and songs for plays and farces.[3]

He married Sarah Woolgar, a well-known actress on 28 July 1855. There were two daughters, the younger of which, Mary Woolgar Mellon, also became an actress.[4] Mellon died at his home at The Vale, Chelsea, and is buried in Brompton Cemetery, London. He was so well-known and respected that thousands attended his funeral.[5]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Thomas T. Harman (1885), Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham: A history and guide, arranged alphabetically: containing thousands of dates and references to matters of interest connected with the past and present history of the town – its public buildings, chapels, churches and clubs – its Friendly Societies and Benevolent Associations, philanthropic and philosophical institutions – its colleges and schools, parks, gardens, theatres, and places of amusement – its men of worth and noteworthy men, manufactures and trades, population, rates, statistics of progress, &c., &c., Cornish Brothers, p. 184, Wikidata Q66438509
  2. ^ 'Death of Mr Alfred Mellon', The Times, 29 March 1867, p. 12.
  3. ^ Grove Music Online
  4. ^ Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
  5. ^ Alfred Mellon: Brompton Cemetery

External links[edit]