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J. G. Robertson

John Graham Robertson (14 February 1859 – 24 October 1940) was a tenor who made London and New York appearances in Shakespeare with Henry Irving's company in the early 1880s. He served as principal tenor of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in several Gilbert and Sullivan operas at the Savoy Theatre during 1887 and 1888. Robertson produced and directed the opera Mignonette in 1889 before creating the role of Alfredo in the comic opera The Mountebanks in 1892. He concentrated on concert singing from the 1890s into the 20th century.

Jack Robertson in 1889

Early life and career

'Jack' Robertson was born in Valparaíso in Chile in 1859,[1] the son of Fanny Adrienne nee Harrington (1826–1919) and William Parish Robertson (1823–1864), a merchant. A great-nephew of the merchant and author John Parish Robertson, he studied at the Royal Academy of Music.[2]

Robertson made his London début as Balthasar in Henry Irving's production of Much Ado About Nothing at the Lyceum Theatre (1882) during which he sang "Sigh No More, Ladies". He played the same role for Irving in New York in 1884.[2] On 16 November 1886 at Paddington in London he married Helena Wilson Woodward (1865–1947),[3] who like him had been born in Valparaíso.[4] and with her had four children: Olive Robertson (1888–1945); Elsie May Robertson (born 1889); Nancy Robertson (born 1896), and John Alexander Robertson (1904–1979). By 1901 at the latest the family had moved from London and were living at Ickham in Kent.[5]

D'Oyly Carte and later years

 
As Ralph Rackstraw in H.M.S. Pinafore (1887)

Robertson joined the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in November 1887 in the principal tenor roles in a number of Gilbert and Sullivan revivals, playing Ralph Rackstraw in H.M.S. Pinafore (November 1887 – March 1888); Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance (March – June 1888), and Nanki-Poo in The Mikado (June – September 1888). Of Robertson in the latter role the critic of The Times wrote, "Mr. J. G. Robertson sang the music of Nanki-Poo ... with neatness and in an agreeable voice, although as an actor he still has much to learn. He does not as yet, to paraphrase a French expression, 'feel the stage'."[6]

In 1889 Robertson joined the composer Henry S. Parker in a partnership to produce Parker and Oswald Brand's romantic opera Mignonette at the Royalty Theatre, and then on a tour of the provinces, with Robertson starring as Vandyke and directing the production. Other appearances in London included creating the role of Alfredo in the comic opera The Mountebanks with words by W. S. Gilbert and music by Alfred Cellier and Ivan Caryll at the Lyric Theatre (1892); the critic of The Illustrated London News described him as "a good-looking and interesting Alfredo".[7]

Robertson then began a series of appearances on the concert stage from the 1890s into the 20th century; in 1899 he made a Berliner recording of "Sigh No More, Ladies".[2] He made one last appearance on the London stage as Balthasar in a single matineé performance of Much Ado About Nothing at the Garrick Theatre in October 1909.[2]

In 1939 Robertson and his wife Helena were living in Ickham in Kent, where he was listed on the register as a "Retired Professional Singer".[1] He died there in 1940.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b 1939 England and Wales Register for John G Robertson, Kent, Ancestry.com (subscription required)
  2. ^ a b c d Stone, David. J. G. Robertson, Who Was Who in the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, 25 December 2013, accessed 5 September 2020
  3. ^ London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754–1932 for John Graham Robertson: Westminster, Christ Church, Lancaster Gate, 1885–1908, Ancestry.com (subscription required)
  4. ^ 1911 England Census for John Graham Robertson: Kent, Ickham and Well, Ancestry.com (subscription required)
  5. ^ 1901 England Census for John Graham Robertson: Kent, Ickham and Well, Ancestry.com (subscription required)
  6. ^ Review of The Mikado, The Times, June 9, 1888, via the Gilbert and Sullivan Archive
  7. ^ Review of The Mountebanks in The Illustrated London News, 9 January 1892, via the Gilbert and Sullivan Archive, accessed 6 September 2020
  8. ^ England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 for John G Robertson: 1940, Q4-Oct-Nov-Dec, Ancestry.com (subscription required)

robertson, john, graham, robertson, february, 1859, october, 1940, tenor, made, london, york, appearances, shakespeare, with, henry, irving, company, early, 1880s, served, principal, tenor, oyly, carte, opera, company, several, gilbert, sullivan, operas, savoy. John Graham Robertson 14 February 1859 24 October 1940 was a tenor who made London and New York appearances in Shakespeare with Henry Irving s company in the early 1880s He served as principal tenor of the D Oyly Carte Opera Company in several Gilbert and Sullivan operas at the Savoy Theatre during 1887 and 1888 Robertson produced and directed the opera Mignonette in 1889 before creating the role of Alfredo in the comic opera The Mountebanks in 1892 He concentrated on concert singing from the 1890s into the 20th century Jack Robertson in 1889Early life and career Edit Jack Robertson was born in Valparaiso in Chile in 1859 1 the son of Fanny Adrienne nee Harrington 1826 1919 and William Parish Robertson 1823 1864 a merchant A great nephew of the merchant and author John Parish Robertson he studied at the Royal Academy of Music 2 Robertson made his London debut as Balthasar in Henry Irving s production of Much Ado About Nothing at the Lyceum Theatre 1882 during which he sang Sigh No More Ladies He played the same role for Irving in New York in 1884 2 On 16 November 1886 at Paddington in London he married Helena Wilson Woodward 1865 1947 3 who like him had been born in Valparaiso 4 and with her had four children Olive Robertson 1888 1945 Elsie May Robertson born 1889 Nancy Robertson born 1896 and John Alexander Robertson 1904 1979 By 1901 at the latest the family had moved from London and were living at Ickham in Kent 5 D Oyly Carte and later years Edit As Ralph Rackstraw in H M S Pinafore 1887 Robertson joined the D Oyly Carte Opera Company in November 1887 in the principal tenor roles in a number of Gilbert and Sullivan revivals playing Ralph Rackstraw in H M S Pinafore November 1887 March 1888 Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance March June 1888 and Nanki Poo in The Mikado June September 1888 Of Robertson in the latter role the critic of The Times wrote Mr J G Robertson sang the music of Nanki Poo with neatness and in an agreeable voice although as an actor he still has much to learn He does not as yet to paraphrase a French expression feel the stage 6 As Alfredo in The Mountebanks The Illustrated London News 1892 In 1889 Robertson joined the composer Henry S Parker in a partnership to produce Parker and Oswald Brand s romantic opera Mignonette at the Royalty Theatre and then on a tour of the provinces with Robertson starring as Vandyke and directing the production Other appearances in London included creating the role of Alfredo in the comic opera The Mountebanks with words by W S Gilbert and music by Alfred Cellier and Ivan Caryll at the Lyric Theatre 1892 the critic of The Illustrated London News described him as a good looking and interesting Alfredo 7 Robertson then began a series of appearances on the concert stage from the 1890s into the 20th century in 1899 he made a Berliner recording of Sigh No More Ladies 2 He made one last appearance on the London stage as Balthasar in a single matinee performance of Much Ado About Nothing at the Garrick Theatre in October 1909 2 In 1939 Robertson and his wife Helena were living in Ickham in Kent where he was listed on the register as a Retired Professional Singer 1 He died there in 1940 8 References Edit a b 1939 England and Wales Register for John G Robertson Kent Ancestry com subscription required a b c d Stone David J G Robertson Who Was Who in the D Oyly Carte Opera Company 25 December 2013 accessed 5 September 2020 London England Church of England Marriages and Banns 1754 1932 for John Graham Robertson Westminster Christ Church Lancaster Gate 1885 1908 Ancestry com subscription required 1911 England Census for John Graham Robertson Kent Ickham and Well Ancestry com subscription required 1901 England Census for John Graham Robertson Kent Ickham and Well Ancestry com subscription required Review of The Mikado The Times June 9 1888 via the Gilbert and Sullivan Archive Review of The Mountebanks in The Illustrated London News 9 January 1892 via the Gilbert and Sullivan Archive accessed 6 September 2020 England amp Wales Civil Registration Death Index 1916 2007 for John G Robertson 1940 Q4 Oct Nov Dec Ancestry com subscription required Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title J G Robertson amp oldid 1083515629, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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