THE D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

Henry Walsham

Henry Walsham (1879, 1883)

[Born Newcastle 1848, died Manchester 15 Sep 1898]

Henry Walsham was born William Tweddell, and under the name of Henry Tweddel, sang in concert in Gateshead in May 1870. His career as an operatic vocalist (as Mr. Walsham) began later that year and included London roles in Frederic Clay's comic opera Cattarina (Charing Cross) and Robert Reese's extravaganza Spectresheim (Alhambra), both in 1875.

He joined the touring Comedy Opera Company as Ralph Rackstraw in H.M.S. Pinafore in July 1879, and remained as Ralph when the Company was renamed Mr. D'Oyly Carte's "First 'Pinafore' Company" in August following the fracture with Comedy Opera Company directors. The tour ended in December 1879.

He eventually returned to the London Stage as Edgardo de Toros in Lola (Olympic, January-March 1881), Prince Jonquil in The Black Crook (Alhambra, December 1881-April 1882), and Carrow in Cymbia (March-May 1883), before joining Carte's "Pinafore" and "Pirates" Company on tour in June 1883 as Ralph in Pinafore and Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance. That tour, and Walsham's D'Oyly Carte association, ended in September 1883.

Back in London, Walsham created the roles of Falcon in Farnie & Planquette's Nell Gwynne (Avenue and Comedy, February-May 1884) and Egobart in Fay o'Fire (Opera Comique, November-December 1885). He also starred in Le Postillon de Longjumeau (Empire) and Frivoli (Drury Lane) in 1886.

Walsham's last part was the title role in Jakobowski's musical comedy Campano. The show opened on September 8, 1898, at the Grand Theatre, Leeds, but Walsham was taken ill and forced to give up the part after just four performances. He died within a few days.

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