The singer Willoughby Hunter Weiss was considered one of the
outstanding bassists of the 19th century as well as being a notable
composer, some of whose works are still fairly well known.
He was born in Liverpool on 2nd April 1820, the
son of Willoughby Gaspard Weiss and his wife Ann (née Hunter). His father was a
flautist and music publisher who had premises in Lord Street, the address which
appears on the baptism register at the time of his birth. The family later
lived for some years at 10 Pembroke Place L3. On 15th September 1845
he married Georgina Ansell Barrett, at which time his address was Bedford Street
North. (All of his Liverpool homes have been demolished).
Having been a pupil of George Smart and Michael Balfe at the
Royal College of Music he made huis first public appearance in a solo concert
in Liverpool on 5th May 1942. His opera debut was as Oroveso in
Bellini’s Norma at Dublin on 2nd July 1842. He subsequently
gained a distinguished reputation as a singer of opera and oratorio.
As a composer his main claim to fame was The Village
Blacksmith, a setting of Longfellow’s poem which he wrote c.1854. A firm of
publishers turned down the work, for which he sought £5 for the copyright, so
he published the song himself which brought him and his family a considerable
income over many years.
He died at his home in regent’s Park, London on 24th
October 1867 and is buried in Highgate cemetery.
