FAMOUS MALE IMPERSONATOR

[Hill, Isabella] [Auber, Daniel; Brough, William]: The Stars are Shining Bright, Love. Sung by Mrs. Howard Paul, in her impersonation of Fra Diavolo à la Sims Reeves. London, Metzler & Co. [c.1860].

Sheet music with a captivating title-page or cover depicting the popular entertainer Isabella Hill (1833-1879) in her impersonation of the leading Victorian opera singer John Sims Reeves (1821-1900). Hill had a repertoire of impersonations of male performers. She is remembered for taking the inaugural role as Lady Langazure in Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Sorcerer (1877). She was married to the American actor and artist Howard Paul (1830-1905) and had performing tours with him in the United States.

Details

4 loose sheets, 34.7 cms. x 25.4 cms., comprising chromolithographed cover (by Concanen, & Lee, & Siebe, 12 Frith Street), featuring depiction of the artist in man’s clothing, 31 x 22 cms., verso of this leaf blank, and 5 pp. lithographed music (last leaf verso blank). Waterstaining, the first leaf cropped at top.

Not in OCLC (01/21).