Opera Scotland

Arthur Rousbey Suggest updates

Died 1899.

English bass-baritone, conductor and manager.

Arthur Rousbey ran his own successful touring company in the last years of the 19th century. His career began with the D'Oyly Carte management on early tours of The Sorcerer and HMS Pinafore. He turned to serious opera, touring with the Royal English Opera (under Sydney Hill's management). He then established his own company.

His operatic roles ranged through Mozart (Don Giovanni, Figaro), Donizetti (Enrico), Gounod (Valentin, Méphistophélès) and Verdi (Rigoletto, Luna). Early opportunities to conduct were given to the young Henry Wood and he also employed the bass Arthur Winckworth. After a few seasons as a singer and director, Rousbey also took to conducting some of the repertoire himself.

He died at sea in 1899, while returning from a tour of South Africa.

Roles in Scotland

Dick Deadeye Able Seaman
H M S Pinafore 1878
Sir Marmaduke Pointdextre an elderly Baronet
Sorcerer 1878
Figaro the Count's valet
Nozze di Figaro 1885
Nozze di Figaro 1890
Danny Mann a boatman, devoted to Hardress
Lily of Killarney 1885
Valentin Marguerite's brother
Faust 1885
Count di Luna a young noble of Aragon
Trovatore 1890
Méphistophélès the devil
Faust 1890
Faust 1891
Don Pedro Elvira's uncle, a conspirator
Rose of Castille 1890
Don Giovanni a young nobleman
Don Giovanni 1890
Count Arnheim Governor of Pressburg
Bohemian Girl 1890
Conductor
Maritana 1891
Enrico Lord Henry Ashton
Lucia di Lammermoor 1891
Rigoletto a jester
Rigoletto 1891

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