| Biography | Hugh Samuel Marleyn was born (as Samuel Feinsinger Epstein: his brother was the pianist Isador Epstein) somewhere . in Germany in 1876. By 1908, under the name of Hugh Marleyn, he was established as a concert baritone in London, and by 1917 was being advertised as 'The Prince of Vocal Recitalists'. In 1920 he also conducted: Hiawatha and The damnation of Faust, and Elijah in 1921. From his home in Langham Place, W.i, he set up the Langham Choral Society: it gave The dream of Gerontius in 1923. In 1927 he scored his greatest hit with his music and libretto for Alice in wonderland at the Savoy Theatre: 'Hugh Marleyn's staging is a sheer delight', wrote James Agate. By 1931 Hugh Marleyn (he had formally changed his name by deed poll in 1924) was advertising his services as a 'Voice Specialist, Producer, Composer and Librettist' ready to 'prepare pupils for productions and concerts'. |