George Cook
Encyclopedia
George Cook, was an English
opera singer, best known for his performances in the bass and bass-baritone
roles of the Savoy Operas with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company
. He married D'Oyly Carte chorister, Marian Martin.
.Upon his discharge from the Royal Navy at the close of World War II
, Cook joined an amateur operatic society in Coventry. Encouraged by his success, he moved to London and studied voice.
Cook joined the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company chorus in 1954, soon assuming the role of the Carpenter's Mate in H.M.S. Pinafore
. In 1955, he also began to play the mute role of the Associate in Trial by Jury
. Beginning in 1956, he added to his repertory the roles of Sergeant Bouncer in Cox and Box
, the Usher in Trial, the Boatswain's Mate in Pinafore, and Samuel in The Pirates of Penzance
.
In 1956 Cook began to play the role of Giorgio in The Gondoliers
, while also serving as understudy for the principal baritone roles. He also took on the role of Scynthius in Princess Ida
in 1957, and the roles of Go-To in The Mikado
and Sergeant of Police in Pirates in 1962. Finally, in 1963, he added the role of Old Adam in Ruddigore
. He regularly played these roles until he left the D'Oyly Carte organisation in 1969.
In addition, as understudy to Kenneth Sandford
, he often played Private Willis in Iolanthe
, King Hildebrand in Princess Ida, Pooh-Bah in The Mikado, Sir Despard Murgatroyd in Ruddigore, Wilfred Shadbolt in The Yeomen of the Guard
, and Don Alhambra in The Gondoliers.
Cook was also known for crafting the Japanese-style fans used by D'Oyly Carte and numerous amateur G&S societies for productions of The Mikado throughout the UK and abroad. After leaving D'Oyly Carte, Cook sang with Gilbert and Sullivan for All in his spare time. His wife joined the English National Opera
chorus in 1984 and sang with that company for 13 years, into her 60s.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
opera singer, best known for his performances in the bass and bass-baritone
Bass-baritone
A bass-baritone is a high-lying bass or low-lying "classical" baritone voice type which shares certain qualities with the true baritone voice. The term arose in the late 19th century to describe the particular type of voice required to sing three Wagnerian roles: the Dutchman in Der fliegende...
roles of the Savoy Operas with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company
D'Oyly Carte Opera Company
The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company was a professional light opera company that staged Gilbert and Sullivan's Savoy operas. The company performed nearly year-round in the UK and sometimes toured in Europe, North America and elsewhere, from the 1870s until it closed in 1982. It was revived in 1988 and...
. He married D'Oyly Carte chorister, Marian Martin.
Life and career
George Cook was born in CoventryCoventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
.Upon his discharge from the Royal Navy at the close of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Cook joined an amateur operatic society in Coventry. Encouraged by his success, he moved to London and studied voice.
Cook joined the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company chorus in 1954, soon assuming the role of the Carpenter's Mate in H.M.S. Pinafore
H.M.S. Pinafore
H.M.S. Pinafore; or, The Lass That Loved a Sailor is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and a libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It opened at the Opera Comique in London, England, on 25 May 1878 and ran for 571 performances, which was the second-longest run of any musical...
. In 1955, he also began to play the mute role of the Associate in Trial by Jury
Trial by Jury
Trial by Jury is a comic opera in one act, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It was first produced on 25 March 1875, at London's Royalty Theatre, where it initially ran for 131 performances and was considered a hit, receiving critical praise and outrunning its...
. Beginning in 1956, he added to his repertory the roles of Sergeant Bouncer in Cox and Box
Cox and Box
Cox and Box; or, The Long-Lost Brothers, is a one-act comic opera with a libretto by F. C. Burnand and music by Arthur Sullivan, based on the 1847 farce Box and Cox by John Maddison Morton. It was Sullivan's first successful comic opera. The story concerns a landlord who lets a room to two...
, the Usher in Trial, the Boatswain's Mate in Pinafore, and Samuel in The Pirates of Penzance
The Pirates of Penzance
The Pirates of Penzance; or, The Slave of Duty is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. The opera's official premiere was at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in New York City on 31 December 1879, where the show was well received by both audiences...
.
In 1956 Cook began to play the role of Giorgio in The Gondoliers
The Gondoliers
The Gondoliers; or, The King of Barataria is a Savoy Opera, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It premiered at the Savoy Theatre on 7 December 1889 and ran for a very successful 554 performances , closing on 30 June 1891...
, while also serving as understudy for the principal baritone roles. He also took on the role of Scynthius in Princess Ida
Princess Ida
Princess Ida; or, Castle Adamant is a comic opera with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It was their eighth operatic collaboration of fourteen. Princess Ida opened at the Savoy Theatre on January 5, 1884, for a run of 246 performances...
in 1957, and the roles of Go-To in The Mikado
The Mikado
The Mikado; or, The Town of Titipu is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert, their ninth of fourteen operatic collaborations...
and Sergeant of Police in Pirates in 1962. Finally, in 1963, he added the role of Old Adam in Ruddigore
Ruddigore
Ruddigore; or, The Witch's Curse, originally called Ruddygore, is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It is one of the Savoy Operas and the tenth of fourteen comic operas written together by Gilbert and Sullivan...
. He regularly played these roles until he left the D'Oyly Carte organisation in 1969.
In addition, as understudy to Kenneth Sandford
Kenneth Sandford
Kenneth Sandford was an English singer and actor, best known for his performances in baritone roles of the Savoy Operas of Gilbert and Sullivan....
, he often played Private Willis in Iolanthe
Iolanthe
Iolanthe; or, The Peer and the Peri is a comic opera with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It is one of the Savoy operas and is the seventh collaboration of the fourteen between Gilbert and Sullivan....
, King Hildebrand in Princess Ida, Pooh-Bah in The Mikado, Sir Despard Murgatroyd in Ruddigore, Wilfred Shadbolt in The Yeomen of the Guard
The Yeomen of the Guard
The Yeomen of the Guard; or, The Merryman and His Maid, is a Savoy Opera, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It premiered at the Savoy Theatre on 3 October 1888, and ran for 423 performances...
, and Don Alhambra in The Gondoliers.
Cook was also known for crafting the Japanese-style fans used by D'Oyly Carte and numerous amateur G&S societies for productions of The Mikado throughout the UK and abroad. After leaving D'Oyly Carte, Cook sang with Gilbert and Sullivan for All in his spare time. His wife joined the English National Opera
English National Opera
English National Opera is an opera company based in London, resident at the London Coliseum in St. Martin's Lane. It is one of the two principal opera companies in London, along with the Royal Opera, Covent Garden...
chorus in 1984 and sang with that company for 13 years, into her 60s.
Recordings
Cook's roles recorded with D'Oyly Carte include the Boatswain in Pinafore (1960), Giorgio in The Gondoliers (1961), Scynthius in Princess Ida (1965), and Samuel in Pirates (1968). He is also Go-To in the 1966 D'Oyly Carte film of The Mikado and provides the voice of Old Adam in the 1967 Halas and Batchelor cartoon of Ruddigore.External links
- George Cook at Who Was Who in the D'Oyly Carte
- Profile of Cook