A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Lyceum Theatre

by William H. Husk

LYCEUM THEATRE. The original theatre bearing this name occupied the site of a building erected in 1765 (on ground formerly belonging to Exeter House) for the exhibitions of the 'Society of Artists' (subsequently 'Royal Academy of Arts),' but afterwards used for a great variety of entertainments. It was constructed about 1798 under the direction of Dr. Arnold, who contemplated performing in it operas and other musical pieces, but being unable to obtain a license was compelled to abandon his intention, and the house waa occupied, occasionally only, for pictorial exhibitions, table entertainments, etc., until 1809, when Samuel James Arnold, the Doctor's son, succeeded in getting a license for English operatic performances during four months in each year, June 3, to Oct. 3. Drury Lane Theatre having been burnt down, Feb. 24, 1809, the company performed at the Lyceum from April II following during the rebuilding of their own house. Arnold opened the theatre June 26, under the title of 'The English Opera House,' for the performance of operas, melodramas and musical farces. In 1815, having obtained a 99 years' lease of the ground, he employed Samuel Beazley to rebuild the theatre on the same site, behind the houses on the north side of the Strand, a narrow avenue from which formed the approach to the box entrance, the pit and gallery doors being in Exeter Court to the westward. On April 2, 1818, the elder Charles Mathews gave here his 'Mail Coach Adventures,' the first of that remarkable series of entertainments known as his 'At Home.' The most noticeable operatic event in the history of the house was the production on the English stage of Weber's 'Der Freischütz,' July 22 [App. p.706 "July 23"], 1824. The house being burnt down, Feb. 16, 1830, the present theatre (also designed by Beazley) was erected. It does not occupy the exact site of its predecessor, advantage having been taken of the opportunity to form the continuation of Wellington Street on the north side of the Strand, by building the stage of the new house at the west instead of the east end. During the rebuilding the company performed at the Adelphi and Olympic Theatres. The new house opened July 14, 1834, the first new opera performed in it being Loder's 'Nourjahad,' and Barnett's 'Mountain Sylph,' produced later in the year, achieving a great success. Early in 1839 'Promenade Concerts à la Musard' (the first of the kind given in England) took place here under the conductorship of Signor Negri. In 1841 the management passed into the hands of Balfe, who produced his opera 'Keolanthe,' but his career was brief. The house then ceased to be an English opera-house and became, under its old name of 'Lyceum,' a theatre for the performance of the general drama, Keeley, Madame Vestris, Madame Celeste, Falconer, and others by turns holding the reins of management. The present manager (1879) is Henry Irving. For three seasons, 1837, 38, and 71 [App. p.706 "41"], Italian opera buffa was given here in the winter, and the house has frequently been occupied by French comedians. During the rebuilding of Covent Garden Theatre after the fire in 1856 the performances of the Royal Italian Opera were given at the Lyceum, and in the same year the Pyne and Harrison English Opera Company performed there. It was last occupied for the performance of operas in English by the Carl Rosa Company in 1876 and 1877.

[ W. H. H. ]