Charles Dignum facts for kids
Charles Dignum (born around 1765 – died March 29, 1827) was a very popular tenor singer, actor, and composer from England. A tenor is a male singer with a high vocal range. Charles Dignum was active in concerts, recitals, and on stage in London for about 30 years.
Early Life and Training
Charles was the son of an Irish tailor. His family moved from Rotherhithe to Lincoln's Inn Fields when he was a child. He became a chorister, which means he sang in the choir, at the Sardinian Embassy Chapel. There, he was taught singing by Samuel Webbe, who was the organist.
Charles first wanted to join the church, but his father arranged for him to become an apprentice to a carver-gilder. An apprentice learns a skill or trade from a master. However, Charles didn't get along with his master. After a few months, he became an apprentice to Thomas Linley the elder, a famous composer and singing teacher.
Career Highlights
Linley helped Charles Dignum start his public career in the spring of 1784. He first sang at special concerts for Handel at Westminster Abbey. Then, he performed at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. His first role there was Young Meadows in a play called Love in a Village. Even though his appearance wasn't perfect for the part, his voice was clear and strong, and he sang very well. People loved his performance!
His next role was Cymon in Michael Arne's opera. In his first busy year, he was very well-received and became known alongside many famous performers. Charles Dignum became especially good at roles like Hawthorn (in Love in a Village) and Giles (in The Maid of the Mill). People thought he was even better in these roles than anyone since John Beard, who first played them.
Charles Dignum was also the first to play Crop the miller in Stephen Storace's No song, no supper, and Abdalla in Storace's Dido, Queen of Carthage. He was also well-known as Tom Tug in Dibdin's The Waterman. There's even a picture of him in this role at the Garrick Club.
His career mostly continued at Drury Lane, where he performed in musical theatre (like ballad operas, which are plays with songs) and pantomimes. He also had smaller roles in Shakespearean plays. He remained a popular singer at ballad recitals, performing often at places like Ranelagh Gardens and in taverns. He continued singing at Vauxhall Gardens during the summer until at least 1810. He was particularly known for singing songs by James Hook. Charles Dignum also composed and arranged many songs for himself and others to perform.
Personal Life and Legacy
In 1793, Charles Dignum, along with William Shield, Charles Incledon, Charles Bannister, 'Jack' Johnstone, Charles Ashley, and William Parke, formed 'The Glee Club'. This group met every other Sunday evening to sing and dine together.
People who knew him said that Dignum, despite having some funny quirks, was a kind, good-natured, and cheerful person. He married Miss Rennett, whose father was a lawyer. Her family's money helped them. After his wife passed away, he went through a very difficult time of sadness. He also faced unhappiness when his granddaughter was taken away for a short period, and the person responsible was punished.
Charles Dignum was a contemporary of famous singers like Michael Kelly and John Braham. He had to work hard to gain public favor and faced challenges because of his humble background and his appearance (he became quite heavy). However, he earned respect for his talent and good character. He remained loved by his fans, made a lot of money from his benefit performances in later years, and was able to retire with a good fortune. He passed away in London in 1827, at the age of 62, from a lung infection.
There are several portraits and illustrations of Charles Dignum.
