Historedia
Person

Richard D'Oyly Carte

Events
7
Episodes
16
Years
1878–1889

Every event in Historedia whose sources name Richard D'Oyly Carte, with the role they cite and all of that event’s episodes. This is not a biography, and mentions are grouped by name, so two people with the same name can share this page.

Events and episodes

  1. Debut of H.M.S. Pinafore

    1878–1880

    Role: Producer

    1. 25 May 1878 · Opera ComiqueDebut Performance

      H.M.S. Pinafore opened at the Opera Comique in London on 25 May 1878, conducted by Sullivan before an enthusiastic audience.

    2. 25 May 1878 – 20 February 1880 · Opera ComiqueInitial Run

      The opera completed its initial run of 571 performances on 20 February 1880, marking the second-longest run in musical theatre history at that time.

    3. 16 December 1879 · Opera ComiqueChildren's Production

      Carte mounted a children's version of Pinafore with a juvenile cast, beginning matinees at the Opera Comique on 16 December 1879.

  2. The Pirates of Penzance: Paignton token performance and Fifth Avenue Theatre premiere

    1879

    Role: Producer

    1. 30 December 1879 · Royal Bijou TheatrePaignton Copyright Performance

      A perfunctory performance in Paignton secured British copyright before the New York premiere, organized by Helen Lenoir.

    2. 31 December 1879 · Fifth Avenue TheatreNew York Premiere

      The official premiere occurred at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in New York City, receiving positive critical and audience reception.

  3. Savoy Theatre opens, first public building fully lit by electricity

    1880–1881

    Role: Theatre owner and producer

    1. December 1880 · Installation site not named in cited passagesSwan's Supervision of Installation

      Joseph Swan personally supervised an electrical installation in December 1880, prior to the Savoy's opening; the cited passages do not name the venue.

    2. 10 October 1881 · Savoy Theatre, LondonOpening of the Savoy Theatre

      The Savoy Theatre opened in London on 10 October 1881, becoming the first public building lit entirely by electricity using Swan's incandescent bulbs.

  4. Oscar Wilde arrives in New York to begin his North American lecture tour

    1882

    Role: Impresario

    1. January 1882 · Publication of Harper's Weekly, January 1882 issuePress Caricature in January 1882

      Harper's Weekly featured a caricature of Wilde as a monkey in its January 1882 issue, reflecting hostile press reception.

    2. 2-3 January 1882 · New York CityArrival on the SS Arizona

      Wilde arrived in New York City on 2 January 1882 aboard the SS Arizona, disembarking the next day to begin his North American lecture tour.

  5. Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado opens at the Savoy Theatre

    1884–1885

    Role: Producer

    1. 22 March 1884 · LondonContractual Notice

      Carte required a new opera within six months, triggering the creative process for The Mikado.

    2. 20 May 1884 · LondonPlot Stalemate Resolution

      The parties reached a stalemate, broken when Gilbert proposed a plot free of supernatural elements.

    3. 1885 · LondonRestoration of Solo

      Company members and others who witnessed the dress rehearsal begged Gilbert and Sullivan to restore a cut solo.

    4. 14 March 1885 · Savoy TheatrePremiere at Savoy

      The opera opened at the Savoy Theatre in London, beginning a historic run.

  6. Princess Ida premieres at the Savoy Theatre

    1884

    Role: Impresario

    1. 5 January 1884 · Savoy TheatrePremiere Performance

      Sullivan conducted the opening performance on 5 January 1884, collapsing from exhaustion immediately afterwards due to gruelling rehearsals.

    2. 29 January – 20 May 1884 · LondonPartnership Stalemate

      After the premiere, Sullivan resolved to write no more Savoy pieces; flagging receipts prompted Carte to require a new opera, and a stalemate over a supernatural plot element was resolved on 20 May 1884.

  7. The Savoy Hotel opens in London

    1889

    Role: Impresario and builder

    1. 6 August 1889 · Strand, City of WestminsterOpening of the Savoy Hotel

      The Savoy Hotel opened in London on 6 August 1889, built by Richard D'Oyly Carte with profits from his opera productions.

Sources

  1. H.M.S. Pinafore Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-28
  2. The Pirates of Penzance Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-14
  3. Savoy Theatre Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-06
  4. Richard D'Oyly Carte Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-07
  5. Oscar Wilde Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-17
  6. The Mikado Wikipedia, revision of 2026-10-08
  7. Princess Ida Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-15
  8. Savoy Hotel Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-28