Alec Marsh Suggest updates
Born Somerset.
English baritone.
Alec Marsh started his singing career in operetta, making his debut in 1887 at the Avenue Theatre, London, in The Old Guard (see cabinet card photograph on the right).
From 1891 he worked with the Carl Rosa company in a range of parts both serious and character. He was the company's Don Giovanni over several seasons, and was also noted for leading baritone roles in works by Verdi and Wagner. From 1896 he began to concentrate more on concert and recital work alongside his operatic activity.
Marsh had married in 1892 the American soprano Alice Esty, also a leading member of the Carl Rosa company. Alice and Alec Marsh soon had their own vehicle, the Esty-Marsh Concert Company. Evidence of their performances seems limited but it is known that by 1895 they had performed their 'Sixth Grand Concert' in Adelaide Town Hall.
On Friday 4th November 1898 the couple sang at Balmoral in front of Queen Victoria, presumably while they were on tour nearby. A programme for this latter event is held at the V & A.
The portrait photograph shown on the left was taken in Dublin.
Roles in Scotland
- Mercutio friend of Roméo
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Romeo and Juliet 1890
Romeo and Juliet 1891
- Escamillo a toreador
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Carmen 1890
Carmen 1893
Carmen 1894
Carmen 1896
Carmen 1897
- Count di Luna a young noble of Aragon
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Trovatore 1891
Trovatore 1892
- Lord Cockburn a British tourist
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Fra Diavolo 1891
Fra Diavolo 1893
Fra Diavolo 1894
- Count Arnheim Governor of Pressburg
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Bohemian Girl 1891
Bohemian Girl 1893
Bohemian Girl 1894
Bohemian Girl 1899
- Comte de Saint Bris a Catholic nobleman
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Huguenots 1891
- Count Almaviva a Spanish grandee
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Nozze di Figaro 1891
- Nectabanus a dwarf employed by the Queen
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Talisman 1891
- Matthisen an Anabaptist
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Prophet 1892
- Alfio the village carter
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Cavalleria Rusticana 1892
- Don Giovanni a young nobleman
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Don Giovanni 1892
Don Giovanni 1896
Don Giovanni 1897
- Méphistophélès the devil
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Faust 1892
Faust 1896
Faust 1897
Faust 1899
- Iago Otello's ensign
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Otello 1892
- Wolfram von Eschenbach a knight and minnesinger
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Tannhäuser 1893
Tannhäuser 1894
Tannhäuser 1896
- Gianni Rantzau
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Rantzau 1893
- Tonio a player
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Pagliacci 1893
Pagliacci 1894
Pagliacci 1895
Pagliacci 1896
- Méphistophélès
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Damnation de Faust 1894
- Ford Herr Fluth, a Windsor merchant
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Lustigen Weiber von Windsor 1894
- Davie Deans a Cameronian, father of Jeanie and Effie
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Jeanie Deans 1894
- Quasimodo a hunchback
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Esmeralda 1894
- Friedrich von Telramund Count of Brabant
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Lohengrin 1895
- Lothario a wandering minstrel
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Mignon 1895
Mignon 1896
- Don José de Santarem
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Maritana 1895
Maritana 1896
- Bernard a captain
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Vivandière 1896
- Bertram the Unknown
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Robert the Devil 1897
- Duke of Buckingham
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Three Musketeers 1899