THE D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

Helen Sedger (1890-91, 1894-1901)

[Born London 30 May c.1856]

Mezzo-soprano Helen Sedger took her first D'Oyly Carte part on January 7, 1890, as Vittoria in the first American production of The Gondoliers at the Park Theatre, New York. The production was a popular, critical, and financial failure, and it closed in February. When it was remounted at Palmer's Theatre later that month Miss Sedger was in the chorus, but no longer had any solo lines. After returning to Britain she filled in briefly as the Duchess of Plaza-Toro with D'Oyly Carte Opera Company "C" in May 1891.

Several years later, she was on tour of the British provinces in the chorus of D'Oyly Carte Opera Company "B," serving between 1894 and 1898. She filled in briefly for Alice Weathersby as Widow Merton in The Vicar of Bray in early 1896, and later took over as Pitti-Sing in The Mikado for portions of November and December of that year.

Miss Sedger joined D'Oyly Carte Opera Company "E" in 1898, perhaps mid-year when Company "B" disbanded. Her last roles with the D'Oyly Carte organization were Zinnia in The Lucky Star (April-November 1899) and "Whisper-of-the-West-Wind" in The Rose of Persia (February 1900-March 1901), both on tour with D'Oyly Carte Opera Company "E."

S Index  |  "Who Was Who" Homepage