THE D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

Howard Short (1956-58)

Baritone Howard Short began his career in Gilbert & Sullivan in Australia with the J. C. Williamson Company as a chorister during their 1949-50 season.

He joined the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in October 1956, assuming the part of First Citizen in The Yeomen of the Guard in March 1957 following the departure of Dennis Reynolds. That season he may have filled in on occasion for George Cook as Samuel in The Pirates of Penzance, when that gentleman was playing the Sergeant of Police.

Beginning in July 1957, Short appeared regularly as the Associate in Trial by Jury and First Citizen in Yeomen. He also filled in the first week of the season as Strephon in Iolanthe and Pish-Tush in The Mikado. He left the D'Oyly Carte on March 1, 1958. Although he didn't play Samuel that season, Short did sing the role on the Company's first stereo recording of The Pirates of Penzance, recorded in late 1957 and released early the following year.

Short next would create three small roles (Counsel for the Prosecution, Third Warder, and Flic) in the musical comedy Irma la Douce, that opened at London's Lyric Theatre on July 17, 1958. He later appeared as Nestor-le-Fripe in the same production.

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