John Braham

John Braham, operatic tenor, was one of Europe’s leading opera stars. He is thought to have been born in London, and to have given one of his first performances at Sadlers Wells, on Rosebery Avenue, Clerkenwell, under the name ‘Master Abrahams’.

Orphaned at an early age, he became a meshorrer (descant singer) at the Great Synagogue. Here he was talent-spotted by Michael Leoni/Lyon, himself a tenor at Covent Garden. John soon rose to the heights, standing out from his contemporaries for the sheer sweetness of his voice. He sang in all the major opera houses of Europe, often partnered with Nancy Storace, a favourite of both Haydn and Mozart.

His appearance, however, was not as sweet as his voice. Short, stocky, and swarthy, it was his misfortune to look like the caricature Jew. This gave rise to casual – and sometimes studied – insults from people who were nevertheless beguiled by his singing; one such was the influential essayist Charles Lamb. Bravely the singer, though he eventually married out, made no secret of his origins, regularly supporting Jewish charities and causes.