A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Cornelys, Theresa

CORNELYS, Theresa, born at Venice in 1723, was the daughter of an actor named Imer. She was the mistress of a senator Malipiero at the age of seventeen, and in 1753 bore the same relation to the Margrave of Baireuth, being then married to a singer named Pompeati. About the same period she was nominated director of the theatres in the Austrian Netherlands. She came to England and sang as second woman on the first rendering of Gluck's opera 'La caduta de' Giganti' at the Haymarket, Jan. 7, 1746. She sang at Amsterdam as Mme. Trenti, and took the name of Cornelys from that of a gentleman at Amsterdam, M. Cornells de Rigerboos. Returning to England, she bought Carlisle House, Soho Square, in 1760, in order to give a series of public entertainments, to which a number of ladies and gentlemen subscribed under the name of 'The Society.' On Feb. 26, 1761, she sang as Mme. Pompeati in the Music Room in Dean Street for the benefit of a Signor Siprutini. Her eleventh entertainment was advertised to take place on May 5, 1763. The first 'grand concert of vocal and instrumental music' took place on Friday, Feb. 24, 1764, and the first 'morning subscription music' on April 6 of the same year. In spite of opposition and quarrels her rooms became very popular. Bach and Abel directed her concerts in 1765; they appear to have been connected with Carlisle House down to 1773, and perhaps later. In April 1768 Mrs. Cornelys was honoured with the presence of some of the Royal Family, and in August of the same year the King of Denmark visited her rooms. In 1769 she gave a festival and grand concert under the direction of Guadagni. Galas, concerts, and masked balls followed each other in rapid succession, but the proprietors of the Italian Opera House felt that the 'Harmonic meetings' were becoming dangerous rivals to their own attractions. Mrs. Cornelys and Guadagni were fined at Bow Street, and she was indicted before the Grand Jury, Feb. 34, 1771, for keeping 'a common disorderly house.' Goldsmith's 'Threnodia Augustalis' for the death of the Princess of Wales, with music by Vento, was given at the rooms Feb. 20, 1772. Her fashionable supporters began to leave her house for the Pantheon, and in the 'London Gazette' for Nov. 1772 appeared the name of 'Teresa Cornelys, dealer.' In the following month Carlisle House and its contents were sold by auction. On several occasions between 1775 and 1777 Mrs. Cornelys is to be heard of as giving concerts and balls at Carlisle House, but after the latter date she remained in retirement under the name of Mrs. Smith, and was supported by a son, who pre-deceased her. A short time before her death she sold asses' milk at Knightsbridge and unsuccessfully tried to arrange some public breakfasts. She died in the Fleet Prison Aug. 19, 1 797, at the age of 74, leaving a daughter who called herself Miss Williams. The merits of Mrs. Cornelys as a singer were small, but the 'Circe of Soho Square,' as she was styled, organized during twelve years the most fashionable series of entertainments in London. She was an able woman of business and thoroughly understood the art of advertising. Carlisle House passed through various fortunes. In 1780 the ball-room was used by a debating society, and in 1785 the property was sold afresh. Carlisle House was pulled down about 1788 and the present houses, 21A and 21B, built on the site. St. Patrick's (Roman Catholic) Chapel in Sutton Street, consecrated in 1792, was the former banquetting- or ball-room. (See Life in Dict. of Nat. Biog. vol. xii.)

[ H. R. T. ]