THE D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

Ethel Maclelland as Gianetta in The Gondoliers

Ethel Maclelland (1922-24)

[Born 1895]

Ethel Maclelland joined the D'Oyly Carte Repertory Opera Company in June 1922, taking on the small part of Fiametta in The Gondoliers immediately and adding Lady Psyche in Princess Ida the following month. In September 1922 she transferred to the D'Oyly Carte "New" Opera Company as principal soprano, replacing the departed Dorothy Dane as Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance, Elsie Maynard in The Yeomen of the Guard, and Gianetta in The Gondoliers. In July 1923 the "New" Company's abbreviated repertoire was revamped and Miss Maclelland's new roles were Josephine in H.M.S. Pinafore, Phyllis in Iolanthe, and Gianetta. She left the "New" Company and the D'Oyly Carte organization when the season ended in June 1924. Her brother was D'Oyly Carte chorister James Maclelland.

Miss Maclelland's greatest contribution to the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company may have been as a recruiter. One day while in London she met an old college friend on Bond Street. After informing him of her engagement with the D'Oyly Carte, she suddenly told him "I think you'd do quite well in G&S." Her friend hadn't thought of the idea before:but headed straight for the Savoy to seek an audition. His name was Martyn Green.

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