Historic Opera

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The sets I am aware of are (Note: The operas were performed in English) : • The Marriage of Figaro (set 1) (featuring Desire Ellinger, Frederick Austin, Miriam Licette, Powell Edwards) • The Marriage of Figaro (set 2) (featuring Alfred Heather, Miriam Licette, Clytie Hine, Frederick Austin, Frederick Ranalow) • The Marriage of Figaro (set 3) (featuring Bessie Tyas, Frederick Austin, Miriam Licette, Frederick Ranalow, Miss Owen Trevitt) • Tristan and Isolde (featuring Rosina Buckmann, Frank Mullings) • Madame Butterfly (featuring Edith Clegg) • Othello (featuring Miriam Licette) • La Bohème (featuring Powell Edwards, Olive Townend, Jeanne Brola, Frederick Austin, Webster Millar) • Ivan the Terrible • Aida (featuring Rosina Buckmann, Edna Thornton, Norman Allin, Powell Edwards, Frank Mullings) • I Pagliacci (featuring Robert Parker, Olive Townend) • Cavalleria Rusticana (featuring Rosina Buckmann, Maurice D'Oisly) • Boris Godounov (featuring Robert Radford, Powell Edwards) • Louise (featuring Edith Clegg, Miriam Licette, Frederick Ranalow, Maurice D'Oisly) • Faust (featuring Miriam Licette) • Samson and Delilah (featuring Edna Thornton, Norman Allin) • Sir Thomas Beecham (at least 3 postcards of the impresario and conductor) Norman Allin: (Ashton-under-Lyne: 19 Nov 1884 - London: 27 Oct 1973). English bass. His marriage to the mezzo-soprano Edith Clegg prompted him to concentrate on his singing. Allin made his debut with the Thomas Beecham Opera Company as the Aged Hebrew in Samon and Delilah. Later, he became the director of the British National Opera Company (1922-29). Rosina Buckmann. New Zealand soprano (Blenheim, NZ: 16 Mar 1881 - London: 30 Dec 1948). She made her debut in Welling (1906) in A Moorish Maid (by Hill). She sang with the Melba Grand Opera Company in Australia (1909, 1911). She appeared at Covent Garden, and with the Beecham Company from 1915 to 1920. She excelled as Aida (seen here), Butterfly, and Isolde. She was married to the tenor Maurice d'Oisly. Edna Thornton: English contralto (Bradford: 1875 - Worthing: 15 Jul 1964). She sang with Covent Garden (1905-1910, 1919-1923). She was especially admired for her Wagner roles, personally chosen by Richter as Waltraute and Erda in the English Ring (1908-1909). She sang in the world premiere of The Perfect Fool (Holst, 1923).  

Sir Thomas Beecham (1879 - 1961) 

Sir Thomas Beecham (St Helens, Lancs.: 29 Apr 1879 - London: 8 Mar 1961). Sir Thomas Beecham Opera Company: Sir Thomas Beecham (1879-1961), the wealthy heir to the Beecham Pill manufacturer, established his Beecham Opera Company in 1915 with a short season at the Shaftesbury Theater in London. His company initially presented various English works such as Stanford's The Critic and Ethel Smyth's The Boatswain's Mate. It rapidly grew into a grand opera organization. However, Beecham's conflicting arrangements with his conducting duties at Covent Garden forced the company into liquidation by 1920. Beecham's company eventually evolved into the British National Opera Company. These postcards were published by the Rotary Photographic Company. There were at least 15 sets produced including The Marriage of Figaro (3 sets), Tristan and Isolde, Madame Butterfly, Othello, La Boheme (possibly 2 sets), Ivan the Terrible, Aida, I Pagliacci, Cavalleria Rusticana, Louise, Boris Godounov, Faust, and Samson and Delilah. Each set came in a postcard envelope and cost one shilling.  

Frank Mullings: English tenor (Walsall: 10 Mar 1891 - Manchester: 19 May 1953). He made his debut in Coventry (1907) as Faust. He performed with the Beecham Opera Comapny from 1916 to 1921. He was also associated with that Company from 1922 to 1926. He created the role of Hadyar in Nail (by De Lara) and Apollo in Alkestis (by Boughton). Otello was his greatest role, although he also excelled as Tristan.