The British Musical Biography

[E] Cellier, Alfred, composer and conductor,
of French extraction, born in London (Hack-
ney), December 1, 1844. Chorister at Chapel
Royal, St. James's, 1855-60; organist of All
Saints', Blackheath, 1862. In 1866 he suc-
ceeded Dr. Chipp as organist of the Ulster
Hall, Belfast, and conductor of the Classical
Harmonists, and two years later, was ap-
poiiited organist of St. Alban's, Holborn. He
now turned his attention to composition and
conducting, and was engaged at the Prince's
Theatre, Manchester, 1871-5 ; Opera Comique,
London, 1877-9; and, with Sir Arthur SuUi-
van, joint conductor. Promenade Concerts,
Covent Garden, 1878-9 ; and held other sim-
ilar appointments at various times. About
this time his health failed, and he lived much
abroad, principally in Australia. He died in
London, December 28, 1891, while giving the
finishing touches to his opera, " The Mounte-
banks," the overture of which was taken from
his Orchestral Suite, the intended movement
never having been written. Cellier was a
brilliant organist, and was credited with
superior literary tastes. He wrote a trenchant
little paper, " A nightmare of tradition " {The
Theatre, October, 1878), a plea for English
opera.

[W] Works. — Operettas and Operas : Charity
begins at home, 1870 ; The Sultan of Mocha
{Prince's Theatre, Manchester, Nov. 16, 1874;
revived. Strand Theatre, London, with a new
libretto, Sept. 21, 1887) ; The Tower of Lon-
don, 1875 ; Nell Gwynne, 1876 ; The Foster
Brothers, London, 1876 ; Dora's Dream, 1877 ;
The Spectre Knight, Feb., 1878; Bella Donna
(Manchester, April, 1878) ; After All (London,
1879) ; In the Sulks, 1880 ; Pandora, grand
opera (Boston, U.S., 1881) ; The Carp (Savoy
Theatre, 1886) ; Dorothy (a fresh arrangement
of the music of Nell Gwynne to a new libretto.
Gaiety Theatre, Sept. 25, 1886) ; Mrs. Jarra-
mie's Genie (Savoy, Feb., 1888) ; Doris (Lyric,
April, 1889) ; and The Mountebanks (book by
W. S. Gilbert, produced. Lyric Theatre, Jan.
1892). He also set Gray's Elegy as a cantata,
produced at the Leeds Festival, 1883 ; wrote
incidental music to As You Like it, 1885 ; a
Suite Symphonique, for orchestra ; Barcarolle,
flute and pf. ; songs, and pf. pieces.

[+] His brother, Charles Herbert Cellier,
is organist of Holy Trinity Church, Anerley ;
Conductor of Lower Sydenham Choral So-
ciety, and Anerley Musical Society. He has,
ior many years, given concerts in that locality.
Francis A. Cellier, musical director. Savoy
Theatre, was joint composer of the music to
"Mrs. Jarramie's Genie," and composer of
an operetta, " Captain Bill," produced at the
Savoy Theatre, Sept., 1891.

entry id: 82-R-48