A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Weiss, Willoughby
WEISS, Willoughby Hunter, born April 2, 1820, at Liverpool, son of Willoughby Gaspard Weiss, professor of the flute and music-publisher. He learnt singing from Sir George Smart and Balfe, and on May 12, 1842, made his first appearance in public at a concert of his own at Liverpool. He next sang in London at the concerts of Balfe, Thalberg, etc., and then joined the farewell tour of Miss Adelaide Kemble, and made a successful début on the stage at Dublin July 2, as Oroveso in 'Norma.' On Dec. 26 he made his first London appearance in opera at the Princess's as the Count in an English version of 'Sonnambula.' He established a reputation both as an operatic and concert singer. In the former capacity he sang in the various enterprises of Bunn, Maddox, Jullien, Pyne & Harrison, and the English Opera Company Limited, and in various operas of Auber, Balfe, Benedict, Hatton, Macfarren, etc. But he excelled in oratorio, in which his rich voice and musicianly feeling showed to advantage. He made his first appearance in oratorio in 1844 at the Gloucester Festival, and was continually engaged at the London oratorio concerts and provincial festivals until close upon his death, Oct. 24, 1867. Weiss also composed songs and ballads, of which 'The Village Blacksmith' has become very popular. He also arranged a PF. edition of Weber's Mass in G. His wife,
Georgina Ansell, whose maiden name was Barrett, was born in 1826 at Gloucester, the daughter of a professor of music of that city. She was a pupil at the Royal Academy of Music (1842–45), and first attracted notice at the Gloucester Festival of 1844. On Sept. 15, 1845, she married Weiss. On Dec. 20, 1847, she made her first appearance on the stage at Drury Lane as Queen Elizabeth in Balfe's 'Maid of Honour,' and was afterwards engaged at the Princess's and Covent Garden (1864–5). She failed to maintain the great promise of her early career, and became a useful second-class singer. She married again, Feb. 13, 1872, Mr. C. Davis of New Maiden, Surrey, and died at Brighton Nov. 6, 1880.[ A. C. ]