Leonard Osborn

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Leonard Osborn (November 11, 1914 – September 28, 1994) was an English opera singer, best known for his masculine portrayal of the tenor roles in the Savoy Operas with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. An accomplished actor and dancer, he later became a stage director for the company.

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[edit] Life and career

Leonard Alfred George Osborn was born in Tooting, London, England. He performed in amateur Gilbert and Sullivan productions and worked as a chemist before joining D'Oyly Carte as a tenor chorister in 1937 (the company was paying choristers more than his old job). He soon played the role of First Yeoman (and, occasionally, Leonard Meryll) in The Yeomen of the Guard. In 1938, he added the roles of the Defendant in Trial by Jury and Francesco in The Gondoliers. He also filled in as Earl Tolloller in Iolanthe in 1939.

In 1940, he continued to play the Defendant and chorus roles. He joined the Royal Air Force in July 1940, where he sang in many military concerts. In 1946, after the end of World War II, he rejoined D'Oyly Carte as principal tenor, playing Tolloller and Nanki-Poo in The Mikado. From 1946 to 1959 his roles were the Defendant, the Duke of Dunstable in Patience, Tolloller, Colonel Fairfax in The Yeomen of the Guard, Marco in The Gondoliers, Mr. Box in Cox and Box, Richard Dauntless in Ruddigore (his favourite role), and Cyril in Princess Ida.

He left the D'Oyly Carte organisation in 1959 and went into the retail business in Surrey, from time to time thereafter directing amateur productions. In 1977 he returned to the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company as stage director for Princess Ida for the Sadler's Wells special Jubilee season. He served as production director for D'Oyly Carte until 1980.

Osborn died in London at the age of 79.

[edit] Recordings

His recordings with D'Oyly Carte made between 1949 and 1955 included the Defendant in Trial, Ralph Rackstraw in H.M.S. Pinafore, Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance, the Duke in Patience, Tolloller in Iolanthe, Cyril in Princess Ida, Nanki-Poo in The Mikado, Richard Dauntless in Ruddigore, Fairfax in Yeomen, and Marco in The Gondoliers.

[edit] References

  • Ayre, Leslie (1972). The Gilbert & Sullivan Companion. London: W.H. Allen & Co Ltd.  Introduction by Martyn Green.
  • Joseph, Tony (2007). Leonard Osborn: Dauntless he.... Bristol: Bunthorne Books.  ISBN 0-950-79928-5

[edit] External links