Jane Shirreff

Jane Shirreff (1808-1883) was a British soprano opera singer. She was described as America's "most admired prima donna between the days of Mrs. Wood and those of Louisa Pyne".

Early life and education

As a young woman, Shirreff taught singing and sang in church choirs. She had relatives in the Royal Navy. She was a pupil of Tom Welsh.

Career

London Shirreff was initially known as a ballad singer. Her first appearance in opera was as Mandane in Artaxerxes at Drury Lane Theatre in 1831. Looking back at the season the following year, The Weekly Dispatch reported that "All the phrases to be found in the puffing vocabulary were exhausted in announcing the appearance of Miss Shirreff. The display of red letters in the bills was truly alarming".

She then took a contract with Covent Garden Theatre; the newspapers reported that she had been offered £80 a night by Drury Lane, and was likely to receive £100 a night at Covent Garden. In 1832, The Age wrote that she had "saved" Covent Garden Theatre. Tom Welsh acted as her agent at this stage of her career.

Leander Zerbini wrote a song for her, a ballad called We Loved; or, Fortune, Titles, and Beauty, which was advertised as "Composed expressly for Miss Shirreff, who possesses the sweetness of Waylett and Stephens, soul of Love, execution of Paton, science of Pasta, and finish of Malibran". In 1832 her portrait was engraved from a drawing by Abraham Wivell.

Queen Victoria drew her in the character of Clara in Michael William Balfe's The Siege of Rochelle.

Shirreff's many roles on the London stage included: Viola in a musical version of Twelfth Night at Covent Garden, 1833. Violetta de Trepolo in James Planché's The Red Mask at Drury Lane, 1834. Peki in The Bronze Horse at Drury Lane, 1836. Camilla in The Corsair at Drury Lane, 1836. Eola in The Mountain Sylph at the English Opera House, 1836. Amilie in the première of Amilie, or the Love Test, 1837. Later the same year, Shirreff, with other women actors, spoke out against not having been paid by the theatre manager, Alfred Bunn. She broke her connexion with Drury Lane early in 1837.

In the summer seasons Shirreff toured to cities such as Cork or Edinburgh.

She performed at the Concerts of Antient Music. Shirreff left an archive through which her tour can be followed. The public also valued her purity and virtue.

Personal life

Following the tour, Shirreff married and ceased to sing professionally. She continued to sing in her private life.