Biography
Charles Dibdin created the finest specimens of theatrical opera through his many talents as poet, novelist, composer, actor, singer, and entertainer, making musical theater scores his greatest strength. Most of his acclaimed pantomimes, operettas, and stage productions had already been completed by the age of twenty-five. Truculent conduct, an ungracious presence, acerbic habits, accumulating debts, and evident arrogance repeatedly obstructed his progress. His early works stood out for their refreshing tone, graceful appeal, and galant character, and he ranked among the rare creators who supplied both the music and the librettos for his own pieces. Over time his ill-humor infused the compositions themselves, conveying the impression that the mere fact of his authorship ought to suffice. Nevertheless, during the final decade of the eighteenth century his songs appeared in great numbers and enjoyed wide popularity, though they remained sharply partisan in outlook. “Lionel and Clarissa,” fitted with a libretto by Bickerstaffe, represented his most accomplished achievement, while “Love in a Village” proved his most successful score, featuring an unprecedented scene in which the heroine sings and fights at the same time—the first such moment on the English stage. A tireless worker, Dibdin produced an immense catalogue of playhouse operas, pantomimes, Royal Circus pieces, table entertainments, and individual songs. His literary output includes “The Professional Life of Mr. Dibdin,” “A Complete History of the English Stage,” and “Hannah Hewit, or the Female Crusoe.”