THE D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

Mina Cleary

Mina Cleary (1890)

[Born Allumette Island, Quebec 17 Aug 1862, died Brookline, Massachusetts 27 Jun 1929]

Soprano Wilhelmina Cleary was one fifteen ladies to appear as Gianetta during the first run of The Gondoliers at the Savoy. She gave eleven performances between August 7 and 19, 1890.

She began her professional career in the chorus of the Boston Ideal Opera Company in 1885 and was soon given the role of the Lady Ella in Patience. In 1888 she left the Ideals and went to Paris to study singing, returning home by way of London and her brief engagement at the Savoy.

Resuming her career with the Bostonians (as the Ideal Company was by then known) her roles included Annabel in Reginald de Koven's Robin Hood and Mirabel in the original cast of Victor Herbert's Prince Ananias. She retired from the stage in 1897. (Miss Cleary was billed as Mena Cleary during her time on the American stage, and as Mina in England.)

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