Balfe, Michael William 1808-1870. Irish
composer and singer. He was a violinist and
baritone at Drury Lane, London, when only 16.
In 1825 he went to Italy, where he sang in
Palermo and at La Scala, and in 1846 he was
appointed conductor at Her Majesty's Theatre,
London. He composed operas, including The
Bohemian Girl 1843.