Arne, Michael (c. 1741–1786)

English singer and composer, son of Thomas Augustine Arne (probably illegitimate). He made his first appearance as a singer in 1750, and a collection of songs, The Flow'ret, was published the same year. In 1761 he produced his first opera, Edgar and Emmeline. He also collaborated with other composers in the production of works for the stage, A Midsummer Night's Dream (with Burney and others, 1763) and Almena (with Jonathan Battishill, 1764). He married the singer Elizabeth Wright in 1766, and the next year wrote the music for David Garrick's Cymon, his most successful work. In 1771–72 he toured Germany, where he conducted the first German performance of Messiah. He was also interested in alchemy; his search for the ‘philosophers' stone’ twice ruined him. He is still known today for the song ‘The lass with a delicate air’.