Sir George Power, 7th Baronet facts for kids
Sir George Power (born December 24, 1846 – died October 17, 1928) was a famous opera singer. He was known for his clear, high voice, called a tenor. He performed in the very first Gilbert and Sullivan operas with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. He became famous for creating the roles of Ralph Rackstraw in H.M.S. Pinafore (1878) and Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance (1880) in London.
Later in his life, he became a well-known voice teacher. He also continued to sing, mostly at special social events. When his older brother passed away in 1903, George Power became the seventh baronet of Kilfane. A baronet is a special title of honor, like a knight, that can be passed down in a family.
Early Life and Training
Power was born in Kilkenny, Ireland. He was the fourth son of Sir John Power and his wife, Frances Elizabeth. He went to school at Cheltenham College and Trinity College, Dublin. He then studied singing in Italy, in the cities of Milan and Florence, from 1873 to 1876. He learned from famous teachers like Achille Graffigna and Francesco Lamperti.
In 1876, Power first sang on stage in Malta. He played Count Almaviva in the opera The Barber of Seville. He made his first London stage appearance in December 1877. He sang the main tenor part in an English opera called The Swiss Cottage. This was his only time performing in a serious opera.
Joining D'Oyly Carte
In February 1878, Power joined Richard D'Oyly Carte's Comedy-Opera Company in London. He took over the main tenor role of Alexis in the Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera The Sorcerer. From March to April 1878, Power also played the Defendant in Trial by Jury. This shorter show was performed before The Sorcerer.
Power then created the role of Ralph Rackstraw in the next Gilbert and Sullivan opera, H.M.S. Pinafore. This show became one of the most successful musical plays of the Victorian era. He played Ralph from May 1878 to February 1880. Critics said he had a "light tenor voice of very agreeable quality" and acted the part of the "sentimental lover well."
When The Pirates of Penzance first opened in London, Power created the role of Frederic. He received many good reviews for this part. The Times newspaper said his "sympathetic tenor voice was heard to great advantage." Another newspaper, The Standard, wrote that he "sings exceedingly well." Power played Frederic until October 1880, when he left the D'Oyly Carte company.
Later Career and Legacy
After leaving D'Oyly Carte, Power mostly performed in special concerts. He also appeared in a few other operettas. In August 1881, he created the role of Charles Lorrimore in the comic opera Claude Duval.
Power then became a singing teacher. He continued to perform sometimes, mostly in concerts and at social events. His students included the famous Russian tenor Vladimir Rosing.
In 1903, his older brother, Sir Adam Clayton Power, passed away. George Power then inherited his family's title and became the seventh baronet of Kilfane. In 1914, he attended a special reunion at the Savoy Hotel. He met with three other original performers from the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company: Jessie Bond, Leonora Braham, and Julia Gwynne. They even posed for a group photo next to the Arthur Sullivan Memorial.
On September 2, 1915, when he was in his late 60s, Power married Eva Gertrude Boulton. They did not have any children. The Power baronetcy ended when he died in 1928.
Sir George Power passed away in Kensington, London, at the age of 81. He is buried in the Boulton Family Vault in Brookwood Cemetery.
Images for kids
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George Power
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Power, Leonora Braham, Jessie Bond and Julia Gwynne at Sullivan's memorial in 1914
