Allan James Foley (Signor Foli) by Stereoscopic Coy

Signor Foli.
(Allan James Foley )
7 August 1837-10 October 1899.
Irish Tenor
Foley was originally a carpenter. He studied under Bisaccia in Naples and made his first appearance at Catania in 1862. After appearing at the Paris Opera he was engaged by Mapleson for the season of 1865, and made his London debut in Les Huguenots. In accordance with the prevailing preference for Italian artists, he changed the spelling (but not the pronunciation) of his name and was always known as 'Signor Foli.'

He appeared with much success in various parts. He sang the role of Daland in the first performance of Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman in England in 1870, and in the first performance of Gounod's La Rédemption in 1882. He was famous for his Sparafucile in Rigoletto and his Commendatore in Don Giovanni.

He appeared in oratorio at the principal festivals and sang in opera and at concerts in America, Austria and Russia.