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Frederick Federici (22 April 1850 – 3 March 1888) was an Italian-born British opera singer best known for his work in early performances of the Savoy Operas written by Gilbert and Sullivan. Early in his career, Federici also worked as a talent agent and wrote songs before becoming a concert singer. Federici toured extensively with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company from 1879 to 1887. His roles included the Pirate King from ''The Pirates of Penzance'' in its first performance in 1879. He also played, among other roles, Captain Corcoran in ''H.M.S. Pinafore'', Colonel Calverley in ''Patience'', Strephon in ''Iolanthe'' and Florian in ''Princess Ida''. He appeared in the title role in ''The Mikado'' (1885) and as Sir Roderic in ''Ruddigore'' (1887) in the first American productions of those works. In 1887, Federici moved to Australia where he played in Gilbert and Sullivan and other operas with the J. C. Williamson company. His last role was Mephistopheles in Gounod's opera ''Faust'' at the Princess Theatre in Melbourne in March 1888. On opening night, after he sang the last note of the opera, and as he descended through a trap door in the stage, he had a heart attack and died suddenly. Ever since then, a legend holds that his ghost haunts that theatre.〔 ==Early career and first D'Oyly Carte roles== Born as Frederick Baker in 1851 in Florence, Italy, "Fred" Federici moved to Britain as a youth. He trained for the diplomatic service, but at the age of 23 decided instead to pursue a singing career〔("Stonehenge: Federici – Melbourne's Theatre Ghost" ), ''Myth or Reality'', Angelfire.com, accessed 18 June 2014〕 and also worked for a time as a theatrical agent.〔(Frederick Baker ), Ancestry.com – pay to view〕 He married fellow D'Oyly Carte Opera Company artist Lena Monmouth (real name Jane Elenor Finili; born 1860) in 1879.〔Stone, David. ("Lena Monmouth" ), Who Was Who in the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, 1 November 2011, accessed 16 June 2014〕 The couple had two children, including a daughter, Marguerite Ellissa Anita Baker (1882–1936).〔(Marguerite Ellissa Anita Baker (1882–1936) ), Ancestry.com – pay to view〕〔 An author and songwriter, Federici wrote the song "Dearer than all to me" (1874).〔Stone, David. (Frederick Federici ), ''Who Was Who in the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company'', 27 August 2001, accessed 16 June 2014〕 Federici, a bass-baritone, began his performing with concerts and oratorio but was soon engaged at London's Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.〔〔("Production of ''Faust'' in Melbourne" ), ''The Press'', Volume XLV, Issue 7025, 29 March 1888, p. 3, National Library of New Zealand〕 His first leading role in a D'Oyly Carte Opera Company production was in July 1879 when he took over as Captain Corcoran on a tour of ''H.M.S. Pinafore''. In March 1880 he switched to the role of Bill Bobstay in the same production.〔 To secure the British copyright for the new Gilbert and Sullivan opera ''The Pirates of Penzance'', which was to open in New York the following night〔Performances had to be given in Britain before publication in order to secure copyright. See Stephens, John Russell. ''The Profession of the Playwright: British Theatre 1800–1900'', Cambridge University Press (1992), pp. 104–15〕 the ''Pinafore'' touring company gave a perfunctory performance of ''Pirates'' the afternoon before the New York premiere, at the Royal Bijou Theatre in Paignton, Devon, organised by Helen Lenoir, the secretary and future wife of Richard D'Oyly Carte. The cast, including Federici, which was performing ''Pinafore'' in the evenings in Torquay, received some of the music for ''Pirates'' only two days beforehand. Having had only one rehearsal, they travelled to nearby Paignton for the matinee, where they read their parts from scripts carried onto the stage, making do with whatever costumes they had on hand.〔Ainger, Michael ''Gilbert and Sullivan : A Dual Biography:'' Oxford University Press (2002), pp. 180–81〕 Federici played the role of the Pirate King. In August 1880 he appeared briefly as Mr. Liverby in ''In the Sulks'', the curtain-raiser that was played before ''H.M.S. Pinafore''.〔 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「Frederick Federici」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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