A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Foli, Signor
FOLI, Signor, whose real name is Allan James Foley, was born at Cahir, Tipperary, and in early life went to America. He was taught singing at Naples by the elder Bisaccia (father of Gennaro Bisaccia the pianist), and in Dec. 1862 he made his début at Catania as Elmiro in 'Otello.' He played successively at Turin, Modena, Milan, and in 1864 at the Italiens, Paris. On June 17, 1865, Signor Foli made a successful début at Her Majesty's as St. Bris ('Huguenots'); on July 6 as the Second Priest on the revival of 'Zauberflöte,' and on Oct. 28 as the Hermit in 'Der Freischütz.' From that time he has sung frequently in Italian at the three 'patent' theatres in upwards of 60 operas, viz. as Sarastro, Commendatore, Marcel, Caspar, Mephistopheles, Sparafucile, Basilio, Assur and Oroe ('Semiramide'), Rodolfo ('Sonnambula'), Bide the Bent ('Lucia'), Bertram, and Daland on the production of 'Der Fliegende Holländer,' at Drury Lane, July 23, 1870, etc., in addition to the parts previously named in which his fine voice—a rich powerful bass of more than two octaves from E below the line to F—has been heard to full advantage.
Signor Foli is equally well known as an oratorio and concert singer at all the important festivals. He made his first appearance in the former on April 25, 1866, in 'Israel' at the National Choral Society, but his first success was on Feb. 22, 1867, in 'The Creation' at the Sacred Harmonic. His new parts in this class include Jacob, on the production of Macfarren's 'Joseph' at the Leeds Festival, Sept. 21, 1877, and Herod, on production of Berlioz's 'L'Enfance du Christ' under Hallé at Manchester, Dec, 30, 1880, and in London Feb. 26, 1881. He has played in America, at St. Petersburg, Moscow, Vienna, etc. In Russia he made a conspicuous success as Caspar, Moses (which part he has sung with success at the Sacred Harmonic), and as Pietro in 'Masaniello.'[ A. C. ]