ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a biography of mid- to late-19th-century Victorian vocalist James William Turner. This name of leading tenor became a household word around the provinces of Britain and their opera houses in the last decades of the Victorian era. And the name of his younger brother Charles, also a leading tenor, became almost as familiar in the theatres of Australia and New Zealand. The London debut of 'the new English tenor' took place at the Oxford Music Hall in October 1869. 'James Turner the new English tenor expressly engaged to sing in Temptation has made his debut. He may be pronounced the finest singer on the English stage', advertised the management. In 1874, Turner finally got on to the right route. He sang Manrico opposite Pauline Vaneri, Thaddeus to the Arline of Annie Sinclair and Elvino with Blanche Cole, and, when Nordblom appeared, the press commented: 'the new tenor Mr J W Turner threatens to outshine him'.
