THE D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

W. T. Carleton as Archibald Grosvenor in Patience

W. T. Carleton (1881-82, 1882-83)

[Died Sep 1922]

William T. Carleton played principal baritone roles in five operas for D'Oyly Carte at the Standard Theatre, New York, in the early 1880's. His first engagement was as Colonel Calverley in Patience when that opera received its New York premiere in September 1881. In November he switched roles when James Barton left the Company, taking over from him as Archibald Grosvenor. When Patience gave way to Claude Duval (March and April 1882), Carleton took on the title role. After a break of five months, Carleton returned to D'Oyly Carte and the Standard to play, in succession, Don Luis de Rosamonte in Les Manteaux Noirs (September to October 1882), Rip Van Winkle in Rip Van Winkle (October to November 1882), and Strephon in Iolanthe (November 1882 to February 1883).

Carleton had a long and distinguished career on the American Stage, first appearing in New York in 1874 and continuing for over 30 years. He toured his own Opera Company in 1891, appearing himself as the Duke of Plaza-Toro in The Gondoliers among other parts. Among his many roles, he appeared as Pietro opposite Lillian Russell in Gilbert and Cellier's The Mountebanks in 1893, and as Sir Peter Teazle to her Lady Teazle in 1904-05.

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