Addison, John

1765-1844

English composer of operettas much admired in their day, and doublebass player. The son of an ingenious mechanic, he early evinced a taste for music, and as a child learned to play on the flute, flageolet, bassoon and violin. His marriage to a singer, Miss Williams, niece of the bass singer, Reinhold, led him to adopt music as a profession. His wife obtaining an engagement at Liverpool, he accepted a place in the orchestra there, playing first violoncello and then doublebass, from now on in his orchestra work, confining himself to the latter instrulent. He continued his musical career in Dublin, here having opportunity to improve in composition. At Manchester, Addison was persuaded to enter into the business of cotton manufacture, but this proving unsuccessful he returned to the musical profession. He composed several operas for Covent Garden and the Lyceum, the most successful being The Sleeping Beauty, and The Russian Impostor. He had considerable vogue as a teacher of singing, and for many years played doublebass at the opera and at concerts. Mrs. Addison sang successfully at Vauxhall Gardens, and at Covent Garden Theatre, appearing as Rosetta in Love in a Village and in other roles. She was highly esteemed as an opera singer.