Blue plaque honours impresario Richard D'Oyly Carte

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 15 Nov, 05:58 · Archive

Richard D'Oyly Carte, who built the Savoy Hotel and Theatre and brought together Gilbert and Sullivan, has been given a blue plaque in north London.

Richard D'Oyly Carte, a Victorian theatre manager, agent and hotelier, has been given a blue plaque on a villa in north London where he once lived. The villa is far more modest than the grand hotels and theatres he built during his lifetime.

D'Oyly Carte built the Savoy Hotel, one of London's famous landmarks, and also owned both Claridge's and The Berkeley. He constructed the Savoy Hotel next to his theatre to provide accommodation for theatre visitors. He was also responsible for two of London's most well-known theatres: The Palace in Cambridge Circus and the Savoy Theatre, which became the first public building in the world to be lit entirely by electricity.

D'Oyly Carte is perhaps best known for bringing together dramatist W.S. Gilbert and composer Arthur Sullivan. Their partnership was forged in 1875 when D'Oyly Carte commissioned their one-act operetta Trial by Jury for his Royalty Theatre. D'Oyly Carte believed that family-friendly English comic opera could rival French operettas, and he recognised in Gilbert and Sullivan the clever wordplay and larger-than-life characters that would appeal to audiences.

The collaboration produced some of the world's most enduring light operas, including H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado. As founder of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, he managed thirteen of Gilbert and Sullivan's light operas, which made him wealthy.

D'Oyly Carte was born in Greek Street, Soho in 1844 and began his career in his father Richard Carte's music publishing and flute manufacturing business.

How it is being reported

• Blue plaque to impresario behind iconic London hotel - and a famous musical duoRichard D’Oyly Carte built and owned hotels such as the Savoy and Claridge’s and was behind Gilbert and Sullivan’s famous operettas. There is a blue plaque to him in north London.Croydon Guardian · 15 Nov, 05:00
• Blue plaque to impresario behind iconic London hotel - and a famous musical duoRichard D’Oyly Carte built and owned hotels such as the Savoy and Claridge’s and was behind Gilbert and Sullivan’s famous operettas. There is a blue plaque to him in north London.News Shopper · 15 Nov, 05:00
• Blue plaque to impresario behind iconic London hotel - and a famous musical duoRichard D’Oyly Carte built and owned hotels such as the Savoy and Claridge’s and was behind Gilbert and Sullivan’s famous operettas. There is a blue plaque to him in north London.Wandsworth Guardian · 15 Nov, 05:00
• Blue plaque to impresario behind iconic London hotel - and a famous musical duoRichard D’Oyly Carte built and owned hotels such as the Savoy and Claridge’s and was behind Gilbert and Sullivan’s famous operettas. There is a blue plaque to him in north London.This Is Local London · 15 Nov, 05:00

In this story: Richard D'Oyly Carte · W.S. Gilbert · Arthur Sullivan · Savoy Hotel · Claridge's · The Berkeley · Savoy Theatre · London

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