O'Sullivan, Denis

1868-1908

 

Barytone singer and actor; born at San Francisco, of Irish parentage; educated at St. Ignatius College, San Francisco; studied music as an ama teur under Hugo Talbo and Karl Formes, and was first violin of the Philharmonic   Society, also playing the second violin, viola, cello, oboe, doublebass and practically every other instrument in the orchestra except the piano. Studied under Vannuccini in Florence and Shakespeare and Santley in London, and spent six months under Sbriglia at Paris in 1899. His professional career began in 1895. He joined the Carl Rosa Opera Company, and made his operatic debut at Dublin as Ferrando in II Trovatore and also sang Alfio in Cavalleria Rusticana, the Mayor in Son and Stranger, Prince John in Ivanhoe, Biterolf in Tannhauser, Lothario in Mignon, and Van der Decken in The Flying Dutchman. In 1896 he made his reputation in Shamus O'Brien at the London Opera Comique. He returned to America in 1897, and appeared in Shamus O'Brien and recitals during 1897 and 1899. He also starred in Boucicault's Irish dramas, Arrah na Pogue, Shaughraun, and Colleen Bawn. In 1896 and 1901 he appeared at the London Ballad concerts, and frequently appeared before the King with the Royal Orchestral Amateurs. Mr. O'Sullivan was noted especially for his true interpretation of Irish songs and for his versatility, as shown by his perfect rendering of songs in eight other languages. In the summer of 1907 he sang Irish songs before the Colonial Convention, where were assembled the Premiers of all the British Colonies. He died suddenly.