Aynsley Cook Suggest updates
Thomas Aynsley Cook.
Born London, July 1831 (or 1836).
Died Liverpool, 16 February 1894.
English bass-baritone.
Aynsley Cook studied in Germany and began his singing career there. On his return to Britain, he made his debut at Manchester in 1856 with the National English Opera Company run by Lucy Escott. He then toured to the USA with this company.
From 1862-64 he was a member of the Pyne-Harrison company, working at Covent Garden. He stayed at that theatre for another couple of years with the Royal English Opera Company. The repertoire at this time relied heavily on the constant flow of new works by Balfe, Wallace and Benedict, in addition to popular European works translated into English.
Cook then spent the 1870-71 seasons at the Gaiety Theatre in London, where he appeared as Van Bett in the British premiere of Lortzing's Zar und Zimmermann as well as popular French works by Auber (Fra Diavolo) and Hérold (Zampa).
These were typical of the roles he was able to carry over to the newly-established Carl Rosa organisation. He continued to appear regularly in their productions throughout the rest of his career.
While singing leading parts with the Carl Rosa, Aynsley Cook sang in a charity concert to raise funds for the restoration of St Mary's R C Cathedral, Broughton Street, Edinburgh. The work they performed was the Rossini Stabat Mater. This may well have been its Scottish premiere.
His wife also sang extensively with the Carl Rosa company, and their daughter married the conductor Eugene Goossens II, so Aynsley Cook was the grandfather of the talented Goossens siblings - Sir Eugene, Leon, Marie, Sidonie and Adolf.
Roles in Scotland
- Don José de Santarem
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Maritana 1874
Maritana 1877
- Giacomo a bandit
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Fra Diavolo 1874
- Leporello Giovanni's servant
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Don Giovanni 1874
Don Giovanni 1886
Don Giovanni 1887
Don Giovanni 1888
Don Giovanni 1892
- Devilshoof leader of the gypsies
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Bohemian Girl 1874
Bohemian Girl 1877
Bohemian Girl 1885
Bohemian Girl 1886
Bohemian Girl 1887
Bohemian Girl 1888
Bohemian Girl 1889
Bohemian Girl 1890
Bohemian Girl 1891
Bohemian Girl 1893
- Valentin Marguerite's brother
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Faust 1874
- Father Tom Parish Priest of Kenmare
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Lily of Killarney 1876
- Daniel Mikeli's father
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Water Carrier 1876
- Daniel Capuzzi a follower of Zampa
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Zampa 1876
Zampa 1877
- Count Rosenberg
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Siege of Rochelle 1877
- Méphistophélès the devil
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Faust 1877
- Danny Mann a boatman, devoted to Hardress
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Lily of Killarney 1877
- Hugo the Sompnour (a tithe gatherer)
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Robin Hood 1877
- Sir John Falstaff a knight
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Lustigen Weiber von Windsor 1877
- Deschapelles
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Pauline 1877
- Figaro the Count's valet
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Nozze di Figaro 1877
- Daland a Norwegian sea captain
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Fliegende Holländer 1877
- Colonel Ollendorf Governor of Cracow
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Beggar Student 1885
- Dancaïre a smuggler
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Carmen 1885
Carmen 1886
Carmen 1887
Carmen 1888
Carmen 1889
Carmen 1890
Carmen 1891
Carmen 1892
Carmen 1893
- Bartolo a doctor, the Countess's former guardian
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Nozze di Figaro 1886
Nozze di Figaro 1888
Nozze di Figaro 1891
- Halvor an innkeeper, brother-in-law of Andreas
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Nordisa 1887
- Baron Truenfels
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Lurline 1889
- Ralph a servant
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Puritan's Daughter 1889
- Gritzenko a corporal of grenadiers
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Étoile du nord 1889
- Sulpice a sergeant of Grenadiers
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Daughter of the Regiment 1890
Daughter of the Regiment 1891
Daughter of the Regiment 1892
Daughter of the Regiment 1893
- Baron Douphol Violetta's protector, a rival of Alfredo
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Traviata 1890
- Gil Perez Porter at the Convent
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Black Domino 1891
- Beppo a bandit
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Fra Diavolo 1891
Fra Diavolo 1893
- Bass
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Stabat Mater 1891
- Bijou a blacksmith
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Postillon de Longjumeau 1892
Postillon de Longjumeau 1893
- Dulcamara a quack doctor
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Elisir d'amore 1893