THE D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

Harold Sharples as Luiz in The Gondoliers

Harold Sharples (1979-80)

[Born Bolton, Lancashire]

Tenor Harold Sharples studied music and singing at the Royal Manchester College of Music and the London Opera Centre. After leaving there he toured with "Opera for All" for three seasons, singing Alfredo in La Traviata, Tom Rakewell in The Rake's Progress, and Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, among other roles. He also sang with Scottish Opera and Wexford Festival Opera, and appeared in Britten's Death in Venice at the Grand Theatre, Geneva. He also appeared in the chorus of the 1978 Festival of London production of The Yeomen of the Guard directed by Anthony Besch.

Joining the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in October 1979, Sharples sang the principal roles of Earl Tolloller in Iolanthe, Nanki-Poo in The Mikado, Colonel Fairfax in The Yeomen of the Guard, and Luiz in The Gondoliers until August 1980, during Geoffrey Shovelton's absence. It was his only engagement with the Company.

After leaving the D'Oyly Carte, Sharples joined Opera North, singing with that company for over 20 years. He has also had an extensive career in concert and oratorio. In 2002 he was reunited with several former D'Oyly Carters for a concert of Gilbert & Sullivan in Peterborough.

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