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Nancy McIntosh (1866 – February 20, 1954) was an American-born singer and actress who performed mostly on the London stage. Her father was a member of the notorious South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club, which had been blamed in connection with the 1889 Johnstown Flood that resulted in the loss of over 2,200 lives in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. McIntosh is perhaps best known for creating the role of Princess Zara in Gilbert and Sullivan's ''Utopia, Limited'' in 1893. She obtained this role after beginning a concert singing career in America in 1887, moving to London in 1890 and continuing her concert career in Britain. She became one of the last of W. S. Gilbert's actress proteges and continued her acting and singing career in Britain and America for several years. After McIntosh retired from the stage, she lived with Gilbert and his wife until Lady Gilbert's death in 1936 and eventually inherited Gilbert's estate, helping to preserve his legacy by selling his papers to the British Museum and leaving the remainder of the Gilbert estate to the Royal General Theatrical Fund. ==Early life and career== Nancy McIntosh was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the daughter of William Ambrose McIntosh and his wife Minerva. William A. McIntosh was the president of a public utility, New York and Cleveland Gas Coal Company and a member of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club.〔("Johnstown Flood – People" ). NPS.gov., accessed 17 April 2010〕 The club's activities were blamed (but the members were not held legally responsible) for the failure of the South Fork Dam, which caused the Johnstown Flood in 1889 that resulted in the loss of over 2,200 lives in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Nancy's brothers were John S. McIntosh (b. 1861), a businessman, and Burr McIntosh, a writer, publisher, photographer, war correspondent, radio personality, and stage and film actor. Nancy "was described as an expert horsewoman, had won prizes in sculling matches, could shoot and fence, played baseball and cricket and enjoyed swimming and diving."〔Walters, Michael. (Article in "Some Comments on Original Artists", ) ''Gilbertian Gossip'', No. 39, Winter 1992–93〕 A pupil of Signor Achille Errani, McIntosh commenced a singing career, making her debut on the concert platform on 3 March 1887 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. On 1 November 1887, she appeared in the first of a series of concerts with William H. Sherwod in the Chickering Musical Bureau concerts in Boston, Massachusetts, singing pieces by, among others, Tosti, Chopin, Bach and Wagner.〔Nancy McIntosh's cuttings book (1887 – 1893) in the Gilbert Papers, British Library〕 She also made a specialty of singing Scottish songs.〔("Princess Zara: A Chat with Nancy McIntosh" ), ''The Sketch'', Vol. III, No. 37, 11 October 1893〕 In 1890 ''The Daily Gazette and Free Press'' in Elmira, New York wrote of her: "Miss McIntosh has studied under the best masters in Paris, London and New York. She will sail for London on June 25th and will make her debut there as a concert singer under Randegger at the London academy. It is safe to prophecy that her name will be added to the list of American girls who have carried London by storm."〔''The Daily Gazette and Free Press'' May 26, 1890〕 McIntosh travelled to England with her father in 1890 (shortly after the flood disaster), where she studied voice for a year under George Henschel. She then sang in concerts, including in Henschel's ''Serbischer Liederspiel'' at Kensington Town Hall in December 1891〔''The Times'', 2 December 1891〕 and at The Crystal Palace, where she sang in Beethoven's ''Choral Symphony'' and selections from Wagner's ''Die Meistersinger''.〔 She also performed with the London Symphony Orchestra, among others, and in oratorio in the British provinces.〔 Throughout 1892 she sang in Monday Popular Concerts in Hull, Sheffield, Manchester and Liverpool. On one occasion Arthur Sullivan was in the audience.〔 In December 1892 she sang in Handel's ''Messiah''.〔''Rochester and Chatham Journal'', 24 December 1892〕 Early in 1893 McIntosh sang in a series of concerts under Sir Charles Hallé in Manchester, Wales, Bowness and Windermere, among other places.〔 In the Spring of 1893, Henschel held a dinner party where W. S. Gilbert asked McIntosh if she was interested in singing on stage. Gilbert asked Arthur Sullivan to hear her audition as the lead soprano in their forthcoming opera, ''Utopia, Limited''.〔 In letters to Sullivan, Gilbert said of her:
Sullivan declined to audition her privately, and she was heard with several other singers on the next audition day at the Savoy Theatre, on 30 June 1893. Sullivan recorded in his diary that he was "Disappointed in her voice ... but I don't think she was at her best – however, she will do as she is nice, sympathetic and intelligent."〔Wolfson, p. 27〕 Having been accepted, she debuted on the theatrical stage in October 1893 at the Savoy Theatre, creating the role of Princess Zara in ''Utopia'', a role much expanded for her from its initial conception.〔Stone, David. (Nancy McIntosh ) at ''Who Was Who in the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company'', 17 August 2005, accessed 17 April 2010〕 According to scholar John Wolfson, Gilbert's expansion of the role damaged and unbalanced the script by detracting from its satire of government.〔Wolfson, p. 32〕 Commentators agreed that the inexperienced McIntosh was not a good actress, and during the run of ''Utopia'', which lasted into June 1894, her lack of confidence and ill health combined to affect her performance.〔Ainger, pp. 349–50〕 ''Utopia, Limited'' was to be McIntosh's only part with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, as Sullivan refused to write another piece in which she was to take part.〔Ainger, p. 352〕 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「Nancy McIntosh」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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