The Irish tenor who argued with Mozart over a stuttering role

Music · Published 2 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Before he became an international star, Michael Kelly was a young boy in Dublin whose voice was discovered by chance. He would go on to become one of the first British singers to conquer Italy and Austria, eventually becoming so close to Mozart that they shared dinners—and billiard tables.

Born in 1762 to a wine merchant and dancing-master in Dublin, Michael Kelly received an elite musical education from a young age. His training was diverse: he studied voice with the Italian Passerini and Niccolò Peretti, and keyboard with Michael Arne. By his teens, he was already being tutored by distinguished figures like Venanzio Rauzzini and even the surgeon-violinist John Neale. This rigorous foundation allowed him to transition from a treble singer to a tenor as his voice matured during travels through Sicily in 1780.

Kelly’s career was defined by high-stakes international movement. He navigated the prestigious conservatories of Naples, performed for the King and Queen of Naples, and eventually secured a residency at the court of Emperor Joseph II in Vienna. It was here that he cemented his legacy as a leading figure of British musical theatre. He became an intimate friend of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, often dining with him and even engaging in friendly billiard matches where Kelly invariably lost.

The most famous anecdote of their friendship involves Mozart's 'The Marriage of Figaro.' Kelly created the role of Don Curzio, a character required to stutter. During rehearsals for the 1786 premiere, Kelly insisted on performing the stutters with such conviction that he actually argued with Mozart, who feared it would disrupt the musical flow. Kelly threatened to walk out until his demands were met; Mozart eventually relented, satisfied by his friend's dedication to the role.

Despite his immense success—including roles in works by Salieri and Paisiello—Kelly’s life remains a subject of historical scrutiny. While his 'Reminiscences' provide a vivid account of his travels and friendships with figures like Haydn and Storace, some historians view his personal recollections with skepticism, noting that any statement from Kelly may be immediately suspect.

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