The D'Oyly Carte Dynasty

Richard D'Oyly Carte

Richard D'Oyly Carte was born on 3rd May 1844 in London. His father, Richard Carte, was a flautist and musical instrument manufacturer. The "D'Oyly", a Norman French name, came from his mother's side of the family. He remains a shadowy figure in the background of the Gilbert, Sullivan, and Carte partnership. Little about his life or personality is known. Yet Richard D'Oyly Carte was a man of extraordinary vision, a talented musician and his business acumen set up a company which made him a richer man than his partners. He died on 3rd April 1901.

Helen D'Oyly Carte

Helen D'Oyly Carte was Richard's second wife and one of the most remarkable of Victorian businesswomen. When his health failed in his latter years, she oversaw every detail of their far-flung organization, eventually giving up the management of the Savoy Theatre in 1909 when she herself began to be in poor health.

After Helen Carte's death in 1913, control of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, as it was later styled, passed to Rupert D'Oyly Carte (1876–1948), a son of Carte's first marriage, and then to Rupert's daughter Bridget D'Oyly Carte (1908–1985). The company continued under the family's management, but with a final change of name to the D'Oyly Carte Trust, until 1982.

• Interview with Richard D'Oyly Carte on his arrival in New York, January 1882.
• Richard D'Oyly Carte and the Dynasty He Founded by Diana Burleigh.
• The Richard D'Oyly Carte Family by David Duffey.
• Richard D'Oyly Carte in "Who Was Who in the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company by David Stone.
• Richard D'Oyly Carte census returns etc.
• Article about Richard D'Oyly Carte in Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
• Article about Helen D'Oyly Carte in Wikipedia.
• Article about Rupert D'Oyly Carte in Wikipedia.
• Article about Bridget D'Oyly Carte in Wikipedia .
• Cellier and Bridgeman: Gilbert and Sullivan and their operas; with recollections and anecdotes of D'Oyly Carte & other famous Savoyards [from the Internet Archive].

The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company

• Who Was Who In The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company — contains biographies and photos of many of the more than 3,000 performers who appeared on stage with the original D'Oyly Carte Opera Company or conducted their orchestras from 1875 to 1982
• The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in Northern Ireland by Michael Walters
• Savoyards on Tour from The Sketch 13 June 1894
• Interview with George Thorne, Hull Daily Mail, November 1895.
• NIneteenth Century Touring Companies
• 1919-20 D'Oyly Carte Season at the Prince's Theatre
• 1921-22 D'Oyly Carte Season at the Prince's Theatre
• 1924 Season at the Prince's Theatre
• 1926 D'Oyly Carte Season at the Prince's Theatre
• 1929-30 D'Oyly Carte Season at the rebuilt Savoy Theatre
• D'Oyly Carte Programmes, 1917 - 1982
• Trial by Jury Productions, 1875-1975
• Iolanthe Productions, 1883-1980
• The Mikado Productions, 1885-1982
• Ruddigore Productions, 1887 -1974
• The Yeomen of the Guard Productions, 1888-1980
• Revival of Princess Ida at the Savoy, 1954.
• Article published about Darrell Fancourt's career with the company published shortly before his death.
• John Reed "In Conversation". In September 1973, John Reed, principal comic baritone with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, met a group of fans to talk about his life in the company.
• Some reminiscences of the old D'Oyly Carte Opera Company by members of Savoynet.
• New D'Oyly Carte Opera Company Home Page

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Page modified 14 April 2021