The British Musical Biography

[E] Lyle, James, Durward Lely, tenor voca-
list, born at Arbroath, Forfarshire, in 1857.
As a boy he entered a lawyer's office at Blair-
gowrie, and learnt the Tonic Sol-fa method
from a Mr. Robertson. Gaining some reputa-
tion as a singer, he was, by the aid of Mr.
Patrick Allan Eraser, of Hospitalfield, enabled
to study in Milan, under Sangiovanni, Lani-
perti, and others. On his return to England
he sang much in opera. He was the original
Don J use in " Carmen," when Miss Emily
Soldene produced the work in 1879, in English.
He also sang at Her Majesty's, and elsewhere,
with the Carl Rosa Company, 1879-90. A
few years later he started, with his wife,
recitals of " Scottish Song and Story," which
met with great success in the United King-
dom, Canada, and the United States. In
1896 he was on tour with his own opera com-
pany, and produced Dr. Greig's opera, " Holy-
rood," at Glasgow, in October of that year.

entry id: 256-R-57