Mary Lindsey known as Mrs Lindsey ( fl. 1697 – 1713) was a

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

singer. She specialised in comedic roles particularly opposite

Richard Leveridge Richard Leveridge (or Leueridge) (19 July 1670 – 22 March 1758) was an English bass singer of the London stage and a composer of baroque music, including many popular songs. Life Richard Leveridge was born in the parish of St Martin-in-the-Fiel ...

. She appeared in the first all-sung operas in the UK in English.

Life

Her birth and education are unknown. She came to notice in 1697 when she had a supporting role at the

Dorset Garden Theatre The Dorset Garden Theatre in London, built in 1671, was in its early years also known as the Duke of York's Theatre, or the Duke's Theatre. In 1685, King Charles II died and his brother, the Duke of York, was crowned as James II. When the Du ...

in June and by the end of the year she had sung in "The Imposture Defeated". This was a five part comedy also known as "A Trick to Cheat the Devil." by George Powell. Richard Leveridge's song for Mrs Lindsey to sing to Princess Anne

Richard Leveridge's song for Mrs Lindsey to sing to Princess Anne

The following year she sang for Princess

Anne Anne, alternatively spelled Ann, is a form of the Latin female given name Anna. This in turn is a representation of the Hebrew Hannah, which means 'favour' or 'grace'. Related names include Annie. Anne is sometimes used as a male name in the ...

performing a special song composed by the bass singer

when the Princess came to see

John Crowne John Crowne (6 April 1641 – 1712) was a British dramatist. His father "Colonel" William Crowne, accompanied the earl of Arundel on a diplomatic mission to Vienna in 1637, and wrote an account of his journey. He emigrated to Nova Scotia where h ...

's new play ''Caligula'' when it was performed in 1698. In the same year she took a rare acting part in

Thomas d'Urfey Thomas d'Urfey (a.k.a. Tom Durfey; 165326 February 1723) was an English writer and wit. He wrote plays, songs, jokes, and poems. He was an important innovator and contributor in the evolution of the ballad opera. Life D'Urfey was born in Devonsh ...

's satire ''The Campaigners''. She took the part of a nurse, although her major contribution was to sing a comedic lullaby, ''My dear cockadoodle'' by

Daniel Purcell Daniel Purcell (c. 1664 – buried 26 November 1717) was an English Baroque composer, the younger brother or cousin of Henry Purcell. Biography Like Henry Purcell before him, Daniel Purcell joined the choir of the Chapel Royal at about the age ...

. She was a mezzo-soprano and she was billed as "Mrs Lindsey" although this does not mean that she was married. In February 1699 she sang interludes at the first performance of

Peter Anthony Motteux Peter Anthony Motteux (born Pierre Antoine Motteux ; 25 February 1663 – 18 February 1718) was a French-born English author, playwright, and translator. Motteux was a significant figure in the evolution of English journalism in his era, as the ...

's semi-opera ''The Island Princess, at''

Drury Lane Drury Lane is a street on the eastern boundary of the Covent Garden area of London, running between Aldwych and High Holborn. The northern part is in the borough of Camden and the southern part in the City of Westminster. Notable landmarks ...

in February 1699. The opera's music was by

and Jeremiah Clarke. In 1706 Queen Anne had a " Command Performance" of the "best Singers and Dancers, Foreign and English'". She was chosen to sing in the performance at court and Richard Leveridge was one of the other performers. She appeared in Clayton's

Arsinoe, Queen of Cyprus ''Arsinoe, Queen of Cyprus'' by Thomas Clayton was the first Italian-style opera (in English) to be staged in England. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on 16 January 1705. There were various historical women named Arsinoe, but from th ...

which is said to be the first all-sung opera in English. She and Leveridge appeared again in the first performance of ''Rosamund'' (again) by Clayton. One source reports this as "the first" all-sung opera in English. Lindsey and Leveridge provided a comic sub-plot. Leveridge played a pimp and Lindsey was his wife. At the beginning of 1708 the companies at the

Queen's Theatre at the Haymarket Her Majesty's Theatre is a West End theatre situated on Haymarket in the City of Westminster, London. The present building was designed by Charles J. Phipps and was constructed in 1897 for actor-manager Herbert Beerbohm Tree, who established t ...

and

Drury Lane Theatre The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, commonly known as Drury Lane, is a West End theatre and Grade I listed building in Covent Garden, London, England. The building faces Catherine Street (earlier named Bridges or Brydges Street) and backs onto Drur ...

were rearranged.

John Vanbrugh Sir John Vanbrugh (; 24 January 1664 (baptised) – 26 March 1726) was an English architect, dramatist and herald, perhaps best known as the designer of Blenheim Palace and Castle Howard. He wrote two argumentative and outspoken Restora ...

took all the singers and the actors were left at Drury Lane. Lindsey joined John Vanbrugh's company although she nearly lost her place to an Italian, but her price was too high. Lindsay was paid £2 per performance which was same fee as Leveridge and in addition there was a benefit performance for her in 1709. She chose to repeat the opera "Camilla" for the benefit and her role of the nursemaid, Tullia, opposite Leveridge who plays the younger servant, Linco. At the end of her life it is thought that she would have been occupied with teaching.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lindsey, Mary 1600s births 1713 deaths British women singers