Robert Wilson (tenor)
Encyclopedia
Robert Wilson was a Scottish tenor
. After beginning his career with the Rothesay Entertainers
in Scotland, Wilson joined the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company
, with whom he performed from 1931 to 1937. He then began a long solo career in concerts, radio, variety and recording, becoming known especially for his performances of Scottish songs.
. His father, Alexander, was a tailor, and his mother was Marion née McLurg. He trained at first as a draughtsman, then, in his twenties, as a professional singer in Glasgow
. He initially performed for several seasons as part of the Rothesay Entertainers in Scotland. At the same time, he sang at Clan concerts and Scottish Festivals.
In 1931, Wilson joined the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company
, at first in the chorus, understudying and occasionally performing the role of the Defendant in Trial by Jury
and Ralph Rackstraw in H.M.S. Pinafore
. In 1932, he began to play the Defendant on a regular basis, and soon was also playing the small roles of First Yeoman in The Yeomen of the Guard
and Francesco in The Gondoliers
, and still substituting occasionally as Ralph. At the same time, he was in demand as a recording artist for Parlophone
. In 1934, he was given the additional principal roles of Hilarion in Princess Ida
and Nanki-Poo in The Mikado
and moved up to Leonard Meryll in Yeomen, and Marco in The Gondoliers. In 1935–36 season, he continued to play the Defendant and shared the roles of Ralph, Nanki Poo, Leonard and Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance
. That season he also sometimes played the role of Colonel Fairfax in Yeomen and Marco in The Gondoliers. He participated in the company's North American tours in 1934 and 1936. When Derek Oldham
returned to the company in 1936, Wilson's roles were reduced to Defendant, Leonard and Francesco. He left the company in 1937.
After this, Wilson became a solo artist, heading his own concert party singing Scottish ballads for several years on tour throughout Britain. He also continued in demand as a recording artist, signing with HMV
in 1943. His recordings of such Scottish songs as "A Gordon for Me" and "Down in the Glen" were big sellers. He became a well-known variety performer and in the 1950s he was an early presenter of the White Heather Club
and recorded with them. He continued to tour into the 1960s. Wilson's wife was named Margaret, and their son, Carey Wilson, also became a singer.
Wilson died in 1964, never having fully recovered from a car accident the previous year.
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
. After beginning his career with the Rothesay Entertainers
Rothesay, Argyll and Bute
The town of Rothesay is the principal town on the Isle of Bute, in the council area of Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It can be reached by ferry from Wemyss Bay which offers an onward rail link to Glasgow. At the centre of the town is Rothesay Castle, a ruined castle which dates back to the 13th...
in Scotland, Wilson joined 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...
, with whom he performed from 1931 to 1937. He then began a long solo career in concerts, radio, variety and recording, becoming known especially for his performances of Scottish songs.
Life and career
Wilson was born in CambuslangCambuslang
Cambuslang is a suburban town on the south-eastern outskirts of Glasgow, Scotland. It is within the local authority area of South Lanarkshire. Historically, it was a large rural Parish incorporating nearby hamlets of Newton, Flemington, and Halfway. It is known as "the largest village in...
. His father, Alexander, was a tailor, and his mother was Marion née McLurg. He trained at first as a draughtsman, then, in his twenties, as a professional singer in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. He initially performed for several seasons as part of the Rothesay Entertainers in Scotland. At the same time, he sang at Clan concerts and Scottish Festivals.
In 1931, Wilson joined 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...
, at first in the chorus, understudying and occasionally performing the role of the Defendant 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...
and Ralph Rackstraw 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 1932, he began to play the Defendant on a regular basis, and soon was also playing the small roles of First Yeoman 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 Francesco 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...
, and still substituting occasionally as Ralph. At the same time, he was in demand as a recording artist for Parlophone
Parlophone
Parlophone is a record label that was founded in Germany in 1896 by the Carl Lindström Company as Parlophon. The British branch was formed in 1923 as "Parlophone" which developed a reputation in the 1920s as a leading jazz label. It was acquired in 1927 by the Columbia Graphophone Company which...
. In 1934, he was given the additional principal roles of Hilarion 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...
and Nanki-Poo 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 moved up to Leonard Meryll in Yeomen, and Marco in The Gondoliers. In 1935–36 season, he continued to play the Defendant and shared the roles of Ralph, Nanki Poo, Leonard and Frederic 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...
. That season he also sometimes played the role of Colonel Fairfax in Yeomen and Marco in The Gondoliers. He participated in the company's North American tours in 1934 and 1936. When Derek Oldham
Derek Oldham
Derek Oldham was an English singer and actor, best known for his performances in the tenor roles of the Savoy Operas with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company....
returned to the company in 1936, Wilson's roles were reduced to Defendant, Leonard and Francesco. He left the company in 1937.
After this, Wilson became a solo artist, heading his own concert party singing Scottish ballads for several years on tour throughout Britain. He also continued in demand as a recording artist, signing with HMV
HMV
His Master's Voice is a trademark in the music business, and for many years was the name of a large record label. The name was coined in 1899 as the title of a painting of the dog Nipper listening to a wind-up gramophone...
in 1943. His recordings of such Scottish songs as "A Gordon for Me" and "Down in the Glen" were big sellers. He became a well-known variety performer and in the 1950s he was an early presenter of the White Heather Club
White Heather Club
The White Heather Club was a BBC TV Scottish variety show that ran on and off from 7 May 1958 to 1968.It was an early evening BBC television programme. Until 1957 there was a silent period in BBC TV broadcasting, between 6pm and 7pm, called the Toddlers' Truce. When this ended, the BBC was unsure...
and recorded with them. He continued to tour into the 1960s. Wilson's wife was named Margaret, and their son, Carey Wilson, also became a singer.
Wilson died in 1964, never having fully recovered from a car accident the previous year.
External links
- Profile and discography
- The Best of Robert Wilson album and profile
- Video clip of Wilson singing "Banks and Braes" in highland costume, 1941
- Audio clip of Wilson singing "Down in the Glen" (YouTube)
- Wilson singing "Jeanie with the Light Brown HairJeanie with the Light Brown Hair"Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair" is a parlor song by Stephen Foster . It was published by Firth, Pond & Co. of New York in 1854. Foster wrote the song with his wife Jane McDowell in mind. "Jeanie" was a notorious beneficiary of the ASCAP boycott of 1941...
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