Foli, Signer
Allan James Foley)
1835-1899
An Irish singer, whose real name was as above, who was born at Cahir, Tipperary, and who for many years was associated with Italian Opera and oratorio throughout Europe. He studied with Bisaccia, the elder, at Naples, and from 1862 to 1864 sang in opera at Turin, Milan, Modena and Paris with striking success. He appeared first in London in 1865, singing the role of St. Bris in Les Huguenots, was later popular at Covent Garden, Drury Lane and in other theatres, and was often heard in concert and oratorio, as well as in opera. Foli made his debut at Catania as Elmiro in Otello. He made his greatest successes in the roles of Mefisto in Faust, Oroe in Semiramide, Rodolpho in Sonnambula, and Bide the Bent in Lucia di Lammermoor. In oratorio he was heard in many of the more important festivals, and sang Jacob in Macfarren's production of Joseph at the Leeds Festival in 1877, and Herod in Berlioz's L'Enfance du Christ, under Halle at Manchester in 1880. Foli was heard in all the principal American cities in 1878, in Mapleson's Company, with Arditi as conductor. He also appeared with success in Vienna, Moscow and St. Petersburg.