Alfred Cellier, 1844-1891

 

Born in London of French parents, Alfred attended the Chapel Royal as a chorister, singing alongside Arthur Sullivan two years his senior. Like his friend Sullivan he initially became a church organist, and went over to Ireland to become director of Ulster Hall concerts in Belfast. Back in London, he formed an association with German Reed and his 'bijou' theatre, "The Gallery of Illustration" in Regent Street, London. It was here that he composed alongside Molloy and Clay for pieces written by Gilbert, Stephenson and others. He was soon drawn into mainstream theatre to become musical director, first at the Royal Court Theatre, London (1871) and then at the Prince's Theatre, Manchester (1872-1876).

It was at the Prince's Theatre that he wrote his early operettas, The Sultan of Mocha, The Tower of London and Nell Gwynne between 1874-6. Of these only The Sultan of Mocha brought worthwhile recognition, being later played in London, New York and Sydney. Cellier went on to write a few symphonic pieces for orchestra and numerous 'parlour ballads' for the piano. His first association with Dorothy's librettist Stephenson was when they teamed up for Charity begins at Home in 1872. Sullivan introduced Cellier to Richard D'Oyly Carte at the Opera Comique and set him up as resident musical director at this and later the Savoy Theatre.

Cellier composed many of the curtain-raisers that accompanied the early Savoy operas and assisted Sullivan in framing and setting the overtures for The Sorcerer and HMS Pinafore. Cellier's final work in 1891, The Mountebanks to a book by W S Gilbert, was composed when he had become seriously ill with tuberculosis; this he had contracted earlier in life and had delayed the opening of Dorothy when finished in 1883. Cellier died during rehearsal before his composition for The Mountebanks was finished, so the work had to be completed by Ivan Caryll. Caryll had been resident conductor for Dorothy at the Gaiety, then followed the show to the Prince of Wales and the Lyric theatre where The Mountebanks was ultimately performed.