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Avon Dawson Saxon (c.1857 – 24 March 1909) was a Canadian operatic and concert singer who created the role of Friar Tuck in the romantic opera ''Ivanhoe'' (1891) by Arthur Sullivan and Julian Sturgis and Francal in ''Mirette'' by André Messager at the Savoy Theatre in 1894. ==Singing career== Avon Saxon was born in Grand-Pré near Windsor in Nova Scotia where his father had a farm, and was named after the River Avon.〔(Interview with Saxon, ''The St. John Daily Sun'' 17 August 1905 )〕 His brother George Saxon served as an officer in the United States Army. After the death of his father his mother married a Mr. Benjamin. Through this marriage Saxon had a half-brother, Luther Benjamin.〔() 'Avon Saxon Dead: Nova Scotia Opera Singer Who Appeared Before Queen Victoria' - ''The New York Times'', 25 March 1909〕 A bass-baritone, during January and February 1888 Saxon appeared in New York and Boston as a principal with the Boston Ideal Opera Company appearing in ''Victor'', ''Fra Diavolo'', ''La fille du régiment'', ''The Bohemian Girl'' and ''Carmen''.〔 In August 1888, while appearing as principal baritone with the Amy Sherwin Opera Company in Melbourne in Australia he was charged with assault against an employee of the company over a trunk of costumes.〔('The Assault of an Opera Manager' - ''The Age'' 17 August 1888 )〕 Moving to the United Kingdom, from January 1889 he sang Escamillo in ''Carmen'' for the Carl Rosa Opera Company; in April 1890 he sang in a concert with Miss Emily M'Laughlin at the Steinway Hall in London,〔('Steinway Hall' - The Morning Post, 30 April 1890, pg 7 )〕 while in October 1890 he sang in a concert with Marie Roze in The Athenaeum in Hartlepool, and for whom he was one of a quartet of vocalists billed as 'The Meister Singers'.〔('The Marie Roze Concert' - ''Hartlepool Mail'' - 20 October 1890 )〕 From January to June 1891 Saxon created the role of Friar Tuck in the romantic opera ''Ivanhoe'' by Arthur Sullivan and Julian Sturgis at the Royal English Opera House, reprising the role when the opera was revived for six performances in November 1891.〔 The critic of ''The Times'' wrote of his performance, "Mr. Avon Saxon is in all respects an excellent Friar Tuck, burly and good-humoured; he may well be the latter, for he has the most taking number of the opera to sing, and delivers it with all possible effect."〔('The Royal English Opera - "Ivanhoe"' - ''The Times'' 6 February 1891 )〕 In January 1892 he sailed from Southampton for Cape Town in South Africa;〔(Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960 for Mr Avon Saxon - Ancestry.com - pay to view )〕 in February 1893 Saxon again travelled from the UK to South Africa with his wife, the singer Virginie Cheron,〔(Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960 for Mr Avon Saxon - Ancestry.com - pay to view )〕 returning to the UK in October 1893〔(Incoming Passenger Lists, 1890-1960 for Mr Avon Saxon - Ancestry.com - pay to view )〕 to begin rehearsals for the comic opera ''Wapping Old Stairs'' at the Vaudeville Theatre, in which he played Ben Brace during February and April 1894; from July to August 1894 he created the role of Francal, the gypsy chief in the opéra comique ''Mirette'' by André Messager at the Savoy Theatre in London.〔(Mirette cast lists ) at The Gilbert and Sullivan Archive (2001)〕 In September 1894 he opened as Major Victor Pulvereitzer in Jakobowski's comic opera ''The Queen of Brilliants'', starring Lillian Russell at the Lyceum Theatre. Shortly after he returned to North America.〔 In August 1895 he premiered the song 'I fear no foe' by Ciro Pinsuti at the first Proms concert at the Queen's Hall in London.〔(''The Proms'' on the BBC Proms website )〕 He appeared on the concert platform in Nova Scotia in Canada in 1898. In March 1899 Saxon returned to Hartlepool where he took part in a concert of sacred music at the Town Hall,〔('Good Friday Concert' - ''Hartlepool Mail'' - 16 March 1899, pg 3 )〕 while in May 1899 he sang in a concert at Blankney in Lincolnshire.〔('Grand Gala & Garden Fete' - Lincolnshire Echo - 20 May 1899, pg 1 )〕 In July 1899 he sang at a Dominion Day Celebration in London hosted by Lord Strathcona.〔('Dominion Day' - Morning Post - 1 July 1899, pg 4 )〕 In March 1900 he and his wife took part in a concert at Shoreditch Town Hall.〔(Concert Programme - East London Theatre Archive )〕 In March 1901 he sailed from London to Australia where in May 1901 he appeared with the Imperial Concert Company on the concert platform in Adelaide with his wife, singing on one occasion before the Duke and Duchess of York.〔〔(Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960 for Mr Avon Saxon - Ancestry.com - pay to view )〕〔('Imperial Concert Company' - ''The Advertiser'' 16 May 1901 pg 7 )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Avon Saxon」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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