Esther Young
Encyclopedia
Esther Young (14 February 1717, London
-6 June 1795, London) was an English opera
tic contralto
and the wife of music publisher Charles Jones. She was part of a well-known English family of musicians that included several professional singers
and organist
s during the 17th and 18th centuries.
area of London. Both her father, Charles Young
, and his brother, Anthony Young
, were well known organist
s and minor composer
s. The youngest child of four, Isabella's oldest sister Cecilia
was one of the greatest English sopranos of the 18th century and the wife of composer Thomas Arne. Her other older sister Isabella
was also a successful soprano
and the wife of composer
John Frederick Lampe
. Although her older brother Charles was a clerk at the Royal Treasury
and not a professional musician, his daughters Isabella
, Elizabeth
, and Polly
followed in the foot steps of their aunts to become successful singers.
Along with her sisters, Esther's earliest musical training was with her father but she eventually studied privately with other teachers. She made her professional singing
debut in a series of concerts in 1736. The following year she made her first opera
appearance in the role of Mauxalinda in the original production of Lampe’s The Dragon of Wantley at the Haymarket Theatre
. Her sister Isabella sang the heroine Margery in the production and both girls stayed with the show when it moved to the Covent Garden Theatre
. The opera was a tremendous success and ran for several seasons. Isabella married Lampe midway through the show's run.
Esther continued to appear in productions for the next four decades, mostly at Covent Garden. She appeared in several Lampe operas and played Lucy in John Gay
's The Beggar’s Opera for many years. In 1744 she sang Juno and Ino in the world première of Handel
’s Semele and in 1750 sang the role of Hercules in the world premiere of Handel's The Choice of Hercules
. Some references have indicated that she went with her sister Cecilia Young
and her husband Thomas Arne to Ireland in 1755, but performance records prove this to be inaccurate as she sang at Covent Garden throughout the 1755–6 season. Indeed, Esther sang at that theatre every year from 1743 until her retirement in 1776. However, towards the end of her career she sang mostly in the chorus and not in featured roles.
On 8 April 1762, Esther married the music seller and publisher Charles Jones. According to historian Charles Burney
, by December 1785, a few years after her husband's death, Esther was impoverished and seriously ill. Her sister Isabella Lampe took care of her during this time with "unremitting Tenderness" until her death on 6 June 1795.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
-6 June 1795, London) was an English opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
tic contralto
Contralto
Contralto is the deepest female classical singing voice, with the lowest tessitura, falling between tenor and mezzo-soprano. It typically ranges between the F below middle C to the second G above middle C , although at the extremes some voices can reach the E below middle C or the second B above...
and the wife of music publisher Charles Jones. She was part of a well-known English family of musicians that included several professional singers
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
and organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
s during the 17th and 18th centuries.
Biography
Esther Young was born on 14 February 1717 in the Covent GardenCovent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
area of London. Both her father, Charles Young
Charles Young (musician)
Charles Young was an English organist and composer. He was part of a well-known English family of musicians that included several professional singers and organists during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries....
, and his brother, Anthony Young
Anthony Young (musician)
Anthony Young was an English organist and composer. He was part of a well-known English family of musicians that included several professional singers and organists during the 17th and 18th centuries.-Biography:...
, were well known organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
s and minor composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
s. The youngest child of four, Isabella's oldest sister Cecilia
Cecilia Young
Cecilia Young was one of the greatest English sopranos of the eighteenth century, the wife of composer Thomas Arne, and the mother of composer Michael Arne...
was one of the greatest English sopranos of the 18th century and the wife of composer Thomas Arne. Her other older sister Isabella
Isabella Lampe
Isabella Lampe was an English operatic soprano and the wife of composer John Frederick Lampe...
was also a successful soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
and the wife of composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
John Frederick Lampe
John Frederick Lampe
John Frederick Lampe was a musician.He was born in Saxony, but came to England in 1724 and played the bassoon in opera houses. His wife, Isabella Lampe, was sister-in-law to the composer Thomas Arne with whom Lampe collaborated on a number of concert seasons...
. Although her older brother Charles was a clerk at the Royal Treasury
HM Treasury
HM Treasury, in full Her Majesty's Treasury, informally The Treasury, is the United Kingdom government department responsible for developing and executing the British government's public finance policy and economic policy...
and not a professional musician, his daughters Isabella
Isabella Young
Isabella Young was an English mezzo-soprano and organist who had a successful career as a concert performer and opera singer during the latter half of the eighteenth century...
, Elizabeth
Elizabeth Young (contralto)
Elizabeth Young was an English contralto and actress. She was part of a well-known English family of musicians that included several professional singers and organists during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries....
, and Polly
Polly Young
Polly Young was an English soprano, composer and keyboard player. She was part of a well-known English family of musicians that included several professional singers and organists during the 17th and 18th centuries...
followed in the foot steps of their aunts to become successful singers.
Along with her sisters, Esther's earliest musical training was with her father but she eventually studied privately with other teachers. She made her professional singing
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
debut in a series of concerts in 1736. The following year she made her first opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
appearance in the role of Mauxalinda in the original production of Lampe’s The Dragon of Wantley at the Haymarket Theatre
Haymarket Theatre
The Theatre Royal Haymarket is a West End theatre in the Haymarket in the City of Westminster which dates back to 1720, making it the third-oldest London playhouse still in use...
. Her sister Isabella sang the heroine Margery in the production and both girls stayed with the show when it moved to the Covent Garden Theatre
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
. The opera was a tremendous success and ran for several seasons. Isabella married Lampe midway through the show's run.
Esther continued to appear in productions for the next four decades, mostly at Covent Garden. She appeared in several Lampe operas and played Lucy in John Gay
John Gay
John Gay was an English poet and dramatist and member of the Scriblerus Club. He is best remembered for The Beggar's Opera , set to music by Johann Christoph Pepusch...
's The Beggar’s Opera for many years. In 1744 she sang Juno and Ino in the world première of Handel
HANDEL
HANDEL was the code-name for the UK's National Attack Warning System in the Cold War. It consisted of a small console consisting of two microphones, lights and gauges. The reason behind this was to provide a back-up if anything failed....
’s Semele and in 1750 sang the role of Hercules in the world premiere of Handel's The Choice of Hercules
The Choice of Hercules (Handel)
The Choice of Hercules is an oratorio in one act by George Frideric Handel. Handel produced the score between 28 June and 5 July 1750. The first performance was given on 1 March 1751 at the Covent Garden Theatre, London...
. Some references have indicated that she went with her sister Cecilia Young
Cecilia Young
Cecilia Young was one of the greatest English sopranos of the eighteenth century, the wife of composer Thomas Arne, and the mother of composer Michael Arne...
and her husband Thomas Arne to Ireland in 1755, but performance records prove this to be inaccurate as she sang at Covent Garden throughout the 1755–6 season. Indeed, Esther sang at that theatre every year from 1743 until her retirement in 1776. However, towards the end of her career she sang mostly in the chorus and not in featured roles.
On 8 April 1762, Esther married the music seller and publisher Charles Jones. According to historian Charles Burney
Charles Burney
Charles Burney FRS was an English music historian and father of authors Frances Burney and Sarah Burney.-Life and career:...
, by December 1785, a few years after her husband's death, Esther was impoverished and seriously ill. Her sister Isabella Lampe took care of her during this time with "unremitting Tenderness" until her death on 6 June 1795.