Frederick Bovill

Last updated

Frederick Bovill in 1885 Frederick Bovill.jpg
Frederick Bovill in 1885

Frederick Bovill was an operatic baritone of the late Victorian era. In his short career, he created the roles of Pish-Tush in Gilbert and Sullivan's comic opera hit The Mikado (1885) and the Squire in Sullivan's romantic opera Ivanhoe (1891). From 1887 to 1889 Bovill toured the British provinces with J. W. Turner's English Opera Company

Contents

Life and career

Nothing is known of Bovill's life; the musicologist Kurt Gänzl found that his dates are consistent with a fish sauce and pickle merchant of the same name from Harrow, London, but that person consistently identified his career as "merchant" during the period when Bovill was professionally engaged in opera. [1]

The Mikado

As Pish-Tush in The Mikado (1885) Fred Bovill 1885.jpg
As Pish-Tush in The Mikado (1885)

In the original production of The Mikado at London's Savoy Theatre (1885–1887), Bovill joined the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, where he originated the supporting role of the Japanese nobleman Pish-Tush. [2] As part of the role, it was intended that Bovill should sing the bottom line in the madrigal "Brightly dawns our wedding day", which includes a bottom F. Bovill, however, was unable to produce this note with sufficient sonority, so shortly after the opera premiered, the character of Go-To, another "Noble Lord", was created to sing the bass line in this number (and to speak an introductory line of dialogue); Rudolph Lewis was cast in this role, while Bovill continued to play the rest of the role of Pish-Tush throughout the run. [3]

The critic of the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News commented: "Mr. Frederick Bouvill (sic) is a trifle heavy as Pish Tush, but has a very good voice and knows how to make use of it".[ citation needed ]The Theatre stated: "Mr. Bovill (the other recruit) proved an excellent representative of the "general utility" noble Lord, Pish-Tush. This gentleman possesses a fine mellow voice, which he produces very agreeably, and is in all respects an acquisition to the Savoy company. [4] In another review later in the run of the show, the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News said, "Mr. Frederic Bovill cannot boast a very long professional career. After some experience as an amateur he made his debut in The Mikado, taking the part of the Noble Lord Pish-Tush. Without a very great deal to do, he makes the best of his part, and his excellent voice and artistic singing are heard to advantage." [5]

Later roles

As Pish-Tush in The Mikado (1885) Pish-Tush 1885.jpg
As Pish-Tush in The Mikado (1885)

In Gilbert and Sullivan's next production, Ruddigore , there was only one principal lyric baritone role in the cast, and Bovill was released from the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. [6] From 1887 to 1889 Bovill was on a tour of the British provinces with J. W. Turner's English Opera Company as Danny Mann in The Lily of Killarney , Count Arnheim in The Bohemian Girl , Don José de Santarém in Maritana and as Count di Luna in Il trovatore , appearing at Her Majesty's Theatre in Dundee, the York Theatre Royal and the Theatre Royal in Oldham among other venues. [7] [8] [9] The critic of The Evening Telegraph in Dundee said of Bovill's performance in Maritana :

"He has undoubtedly a baritone voice of excellent timbre and is a pleasing and effective actor, but he deliberately destroys all pleasure the ear should derive from his voice by a persistent tremolo that is most annoying to listen to. If it is a natural defect no more need be said; if it is done for effect it is decidedly bad taste." [10]

In The Stage in 1889 he advertised himself as: "Mr. Frederick Bovill. Principal Baritone, Grand Opera. Count di Luna, Valentine, Count Arnheim, Don José de Satiterun, Don Pedro, Danny Mann, &c. Mr. N. Vert, Cork-street, W." [11] In 1891 Bovill again created a role in an Arthur Sullivan opera, the Squire in Ivanhoe , at the new Royal English Opera House. [2] [12]

His final sustained role on the London stage was the Chancellor in La Basoche by André Messager (November 1891 to January 1892) at the Royal English Opera House, [2] In May 1892 he took part in a recital at the Steinway Hall in London during which he sang "Time was when Love and I were well acquainted" from The Sorcerer and "Ho, Jolly Jenkin" from Ivanhoe , the latter being encored. [1] [13] He played Tom Ball in a single matinee performance of the operetta A Hundred Years Ago by Alec Nelson at the Royalty Theatre in July 1892. The critic of The Era said of him in this, "Mr Frederick Bovill acted and sang with all the ease and certainty of intonation that are expected from so experienced an artist." [14]

In the film Topsy-Turvy (1999) he was portrayed by Michael Simkins. [15]

Related Research Articles

<i>The Mikado</i> 1885 comic opera by Gilbert & Sullivan

The Mikado; or, The Town of Titipu is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert, their ninth of fourteen operatic collaborations. It opened on 14 March 1885, in London, where it ran at the Savoy Theatre for 672 performances, the second-longest run for any work of musical theatre and one of the longest runs of any theatre piece up to that time. By the end of 1885, it was estimated that, in Europe and America, at least 150 companies were producing the opera.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Temple (bass-baritone)</span> English opera singer, actor and stage director

Richard Barker Cobb Temple was an English opera singer, actor and stage director, best known for his performances in the bass-baritone roles in the famous series of Gilbert and Sullivan comic operas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sydney Granville</span> British singer and actor

Sydney Granville was an English singer and actor, best known for his performances in the Savoy Operas with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geraldine Ulmar</span> American opera singer and actress (1862–1932)

Geraldine Ulmar was an American singer and actress, best known for her performances in soprano roles of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leo Sheffield</span>

Leo Sheffield, born Arthur Leo Wilson, was an English singer and actor best known for his performances in baritone roles of the Savoy Operas with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Courtice Pounds</span> British singer and actor (1862–1927)

Charles Courtice Pounds, better known by the stage name Courtice Pounds, was an English singer and actor known for his performances in the tenor roles of the Savoy Operas with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company and his later roles in Shakespeare plays and Edwardian musical comedies.

Leslie Rands was an English opera singer and actor, best known for his performances in baritone roles of the Savoy Operas with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. He married D'Oyly Carte soprano Marjorie Eyre in 1926.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alan Styler</span> British opera singer

Alan Arthur Styler was an English opera singer, best known for his performances in baritone roles of the Savoy Operas with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Kenningham</span> English opera singer and actor

Charles Kenningham was an English opera singer and actor best remembered for his roles in the 1890s with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jones Hewson</span> Welsh singer and actor

John Jones Hewson, credited as Jones Hewson, was a Welsh singer and actor known for his creation and portrayal of baritone roles with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company from 1894 to 1901.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frederick Hobbs (singer)</span> Singer, actor and theatre manager

Frederick Henry Hobbs was a New Zealand-born singer, actor and theatre manager. After performing as a concert singer in New Zealand and Australia, and in opera and musicals in Britain, he joined the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in 1914. There he played leading baritone and bass-baritone roles in the Gilbert and Sullivan operas for six years. After touring in Australasia with the J. C. Williamson company, he returned to England and became the stage manager for D'Oyly Carte in 1923 and its business manager from 1927 until his death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeffrey Skitch</span>

Jeffrey Ralph Skitch was an actor, operatic baritone and teacher best known for his performances and recordings with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company from 1952 to 1965.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Lawlor (bass-baritone)</span> Irish opera singer

Thomas F. Lawlor was an Irish opera singer. In the 1960s, he became known for his performances in mostly baritone roles of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. In the 1970s and 1980s, he performed over 60 operatic roles, usually as a bass-baritone, with various British opera companies. He was also a director in the opera department of the Royal Academy of Music and at Trinity College of Music. In later years, he moved to the US, where he continued to perform, direct and teach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frederick Federici</span>

Frederick Federici was an Italian-born British opera singer known for his work in the bass-baritone roles of the Savoy Operas written by Gilbert and Sullivan. He is also remembered as a reputed theatre ghost in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Rayner</span> English opera singer

Michael Rayner was an English opera singer, best known for his performances in baritone roles of the Savoy Operas with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Walenn</span>

Charles Roby Walenn was an English singer and actor, best known for his performances in the comic baritone roles of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas with touring companies of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company from 1887 to 1909 and later, off and on through the 1920s, with J. C. Williamson in Australia. Later in his career, he became known for London engagements in the title role of Rev. Spalding in The Private Secretary, which he first played at the Savoy Theatre in 1917, where he had never performed in the Savoy operas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rudolph Lewis (bass-baritone)</span>

Rudolph Lewis was a bass-baritone known for creating several small roles in the Gilbert and Sullivan operas including Go-To in The Mikado (1885) and Old Adam Goodheart in Ruddigore (1887).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leicester Tunks</span>

Leicester Tunks was an English opera singer remembered as a principal baritone with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company from 1904 to 1916. He served in World War I and later ran a poultry farm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Villiers Arnold</span>

George Villiers Arnold was an English actor and baritone singer, popular in Australia for his roles in Gilbert and Sullivan operas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cairns James</span> British actor, dancer and educator (1865–1946)

Lewis Cairns James was a Scottish-born baritone, actor, educator and opera producer most prominent during the Victorian and Edwardian eras. From 1887 to 1891 he performed with a D'Oyly Carte Opera Company touring company performing the comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan before embarking on a successful career on the West End stage and as a teacher of elocution.

References

  1. 1 2 Gänzl, Kurt. "The third wish: or, Pish Tush Bah!", Kurt Gänzl's blog, 26 April 2018
  2. 1 2 3 Stone, David. "Frederick Bovill", Who Was Who in the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, 27 August 2001, accessed 24 May 2018
  3. Ainger, Michael. Gilbert and Sullivan: A Dual Biography, Oxford University Press (2002), p. 245
  4. "Our Musical-Box", The Theatre, 1 April 1885, pp. 186–190
  5. Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, 4 July 1885, p. 4
  6. "Dramatic Gossip", West Coast Times, Issue 6416, 14 February 1887, p. 2
  7. "English Opera Company in York", The York Herald, 31 January 1888, p. 6
  8. "Amusements in Oldham", The Era , 23 March 1889, p. 20
  9. "Amusements in Barnsley", The Era, 27 April 1889, p. 22
  10. "Maritana at Her Majesty's Theatre", The Evening Telegraph, Dundee, 1 November 1887, p. 2
  11. The Stage , Friday 12 July 1889, p.3
  12. Wearing, J. P. The London Stage 1890–1899: A Calendar of Productions, Performers, and Personnel, Scarecrow Press (2013), p. 91
  13. "Mr Skeet's Recital", The Era, 14 May 1892, p. 18
  14. "A Hundred Years Ago", The Era, 23 July 1892, p. 13
  15. Simkins, Michael. "Michael Simkins", Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Sussex], January 2014