THE D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

C. J. O'Byrne

C. J. O'Byrne (1885)

[Born St. John, Newfoundland c.1849, died Liverpool 31 Aug 1927]

Tenor Christopher Joseph O'Byrne's career musical education and early appearances before the public were as concert singer in Liverpool. In 1882, however, he took the role of Charles Martel in a touring production of Offenbach's Genevieve de Brabant featuring Miss Duglas Gordon in the title role.

In his only D'Oyly Carte engagement, C. J. O'Byrne sang the part of Cyril in Princess Ida on tour with Mr. D'Oyly Carte's "A" Company from April 1885, when he replaced Charles Conyers, until September of that year, when he was himself succeeded by Charles Hildesley.

Upon leaving the D'Oyly Carte, O'Byrne renamed himself "Calder O'Beirne" and, as tenor and co-manager of Leahy and O'Beirne's English Opera Company, toured the British countryside for the next decade. He later managed the Palace Theatre in New Brighton before returning to Liverpool where he taught singing.

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