Richard Charke [SEP] voice type
Richard Charke
Richard Charke (c. 1709 – c. 1738) was an English violinist, composer, operatic baritone, and playwright.
Charke was born in London. He initially worked as a dancing-master before being appointed by Colley Cibber as leader of the orchestra at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in 1729. Soon thereafter, he began performing as a solo violinist and singing in small roles at the theatre. He eventually graduated to lead roles in the musical productions at Drury Lane, starring in such productions as Henry
was manager, and in 1729, when she was sixteen, she was courted by the composer and violinist Richard Charke, and the two were married on 4 February 1730, only six months after. A short-lived marriage since she believed Mr. Charke only wanted to reap the rewards of being "Mr Colley Cibber's son-in-law", due to a disastrous financial status. Once married, Charlotte, no longer a minor to her parents, began to appear on stage. In her memoirs she speaks of