A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Levey, William

by Alexis Chitty

LEVEY, William Charles, born April 25, 1837, at Dublin, was taught music by his father, Richard Michael Levey, leader of the Dublin theatre orchestra. He afterwards studied at Paris under Auber, Thalberg, and Prudent, and was elected a member of the Société des Auteurs et Compositeurs. He was conductor at Drury Lane from 1868 to 1874, and has held the same post at Covent Garden, Adelphi, Princess's, Avenue, and Grecian Theatres, etc. His compositions include two operettas, 'Fanchette,' Covent Garden, Jan. 2, 1864; 'Punchinello,' Her Majesty's, Dec. 28, 1864; 'The Girls of the Period,' musical burletta, libretto by Burnand, March, 1869; incidental music to 'Antony and Cleopatra,' 1873; music to the dramas 'King o' Scots,' 'Amy Robsart,' 'Lady of the Lake,' 'Rebecca,' and 'Esmeralda,' and to several pantomimes; 'Robin Hood,' cantata for boys' voices; Saraband for piano on a motif written by Hemy VIII.; several drawing-room pieces and many songs, one of which, 'Esmeralda,' originally sung by the late Miss Furtado at the Adelphi in the drama of that name, and in the concert-room by Mme. Bodda-Pyne, obtained considerable popularity.

[ A. C. ]