THE D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

Louise Henschel

Louise Henschel (1881-82)

[Born 1861]

Louise Henschel (born Kathleen Louise Jeanette Henkel) joined Mr. D'Oyly Carte's "E" Company as principal soprano in August 1881, appearing on tour as Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance until November of that year when she transferred to Carte's "B" Company. She toured the British Isles with "B" Company as Mabel, and as Josephine in H.M.S. Pinafore, from November 1881 until May 1882, at which point her brief career with the D'Oyly Carte organization ended.

Miss Henkel, as she was then known, had previously earned glowing reviews with G. W. Traverner's Olivette Company, as an emergency replacement for the leading lady. After leaving the D'Oyly Carte, Miss Henschel continued to perform leading roles in comic opera for a several years, mostly on tour with the prestigious companies of Lingard and van Biene. She appeared at the Comedy Theatre, London, as Alexina de Kelkirsch in Farnie & Chassaigne's Falka when it was first performed in October 1883.

H Index  |  "Who Was Who" Homepage