[Illustration: AGE 21.
_From a Photo by P. Thompson, Edinburgh._]
[Illustration: Age 35.
_From a Photo by P. Thompson, Edinburgh._]
[Illustration: PRESENT DAY.
_From a Photo by Window & Grove, Baker Street._]
Doctor Alexander Campbell Mackenzie, Principal of the Royal Academy of
Music, was born at Edinburgh, and sent to Germany at the early age of
ten to study under Ulrich Edward Stein. Four years later he entered the
dual orchestra at Schwarzburg-Sondershausen, and remained in Germany
till 1862, when he came to London to study the violin under M. Sainton.
The same year he was elected King's Scholar at the Royal Academy of
Music. The composition which made him famous was his opera, "Colomba,"
based upon Mérimée's celebrated story. This was produced with great
success by the Carl Rosa Company at Drury Lane in 1884. His subsequent
and most noted works are his second opera, "The Troubadour"; "The
Story of Sayid," and in 1890 "Ravenswood" was successfully produced at
the Lyceum. He was elected Principal of the Royal Academy of Music in
February, 1888, in succession to the late Sir George Macfarren.