- Rigby, George Vernon
[E] Rigby, George Vernon, tenor vocalist,
born at Birmingham, January 21, 1810.
Chorister at St Chad's R.C. Cathedral when
nine. When his voice changed to a tenor, he
decided upon his profession, and having made
a local reputation in 1861 he went to London,
singing first at the Alhambra, Leicester
Square, and appearing at the Covent Garden
Promenade Concerts (Alfred Mellon, conduc-
tor), September 18. In 1865 he toured in
opera with H. Corri's company. He then
went to iMilan, studying with Sangiovanni,
and appeared in opera there ; also at Berlin
in 1867, and later in Denmark. On returning
to England he at once took a high position,
singing at the Festivals of the Three Choirs,
1868-72 ; Norwich Festival, 1869 ; Birming-
ham, 1870-79. He sang at the Crystal Palace,
Sacred Harmonic, and otlier London concerts,
and at the chief provincial oratorio concerts.
Of late years he has been seldom heard, one of
his most recent performances being in Costa's
" Eli," at Brighton, in November, 1887.entry id: 345-L-11
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