Charles Santley facts for kids

Charles Santley, [ca. 1859–1870]. Carte de Visite Collection, Boston Public Library.

Charles Santley in Auber's opera Fra Diavolo.

Sir Charles Santley (28 February 1834 – 22 September 1922) was an English opera and oratorio singer with a bravura technique who became the most eminent English baritone and male concert singer of the Victorian era. His has been called 'the longest, most distinguished and most versatile vocal career which history records.'

Santley appeared in many major opera and oratorio productions in Great Britain and North America, giving numerous recitals as well. Having made his debut in Italy in 1857 after undertaking vocal studies in that country, he elected to base himself in England for the remainder of his life, apart from occasional trips overseas. One of the highlights of his stage career occurred in 1870 when he led the cast in the first Wagner opera to be performed in London, The Flying Dutchman, at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Santley retired from opera during the 1870s in order to concentrate on the lucrative concert circuit.

Santley also wrote books on vocal technique and two sets of memoirs.

Images for kids

• 

  Gaetano Nava, Santley's singing teacher in Milan

• 

  Charles Santley, 1863

• 

  Buckingham Palace recital programme 1864 (detail) showing Charles Santley performing scenes from Der Freischütz and Don Giovanni, in distinguished company.

• 

  Charles Santley (ca. 1875)

• 

  Santley's wife Gertrude (right), daughter Edith (centre) and friend Carrie Yates painted in 1880 by Henry Scott Tuke.

• 

  Santley caricatured by Spy for Vanity Fair, 1902