Maria Bland facts for kids

Maria Theresa Bland (born 1769, died 1838) was a famous British singer. She was very popular in London theaters during the late 1700s and early 1800s.

Early Life and Career

Maria Bland was born with the last name Romanzini. Her parents were Italian Jews. She was born in 1769, but the exact day and month are not known. This was common back then.

Her family moved to London soon after she was born. In 1773, when she was about four years old, she got a chance to sing. This was at a place called Hughes's Riding School. Maria had a great singing voice from a very young age.

After singing at the Royal Circus, Maria got a job with Richard Daly. She sang at the Dublin Theatre and was very successful there.

In 1782, she joined the Drury Lane Theatre in London. She took over parts that were known as 'singing chambermaids.' Maria first appeared at Drury Lane on October 24, 1786. She played Antonio in an English version of Grétry's Richard Coeur-de-lion.

In 1789, she went to Liverpool. She sang there on stage and at concerts. She was so successful that she asked for more money to return to Drury Lane. The theater did not agree at first. After a few weeks, she came back to London and continued singing at Drury Lane.

Mrs. Bland stayed with the Drury Lane company for most of her career. She also sang at the Haymarket Theatre. Her first show there was in 1791, as Wowski in Arnold's Inkle and Yarico. She also sang for several seasons at Vauxhall Gardens.

Later Life

Around 1824, Maria Bland began to feel unwell. She suffered from a kind of sadness.

On July 5, 1824, a special show was held for her benefit at Drury Lane. This show, along with money from the public, raised about £800. This money was given to Lord Egremont. He then gave her £80 every year to live on.

She lived with a family named Western in Westminster. Maria Bland died on January 15, 1838, after a sudden illness. She was buried at St. Margaret's, Westminster on January 25.

Her Singing Style

Mrs. Bland had a mezzo-soprano voice, which was very sweet. She was especially good at singing English ballads. People said her singing was perfect and had no mistakes in style or taste. She was short and had dark features. Her acting was lively and fun to watch.

Family Life

On October 21, 1790, Maria married George Bland. He was an actor and the brother of Dorothea Jordan. George Bland later left her and moved to America, where he died in 1807.

Maria Bland had two sons. Charles was a tenor singer. He was the first to play Oberon in Weber's opera. Her other son, James, was a bass singer. He started in opera but became better known as an actor in funny plays. James died at the Strand Theatre on July 17, 1861.