THE D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

Richard Mitchell

Richard Mitchell (1976-79)

[Born Norwich 11 Jul 1951]

Baritone Richard Mitchell joined the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company chorus in September 1976. He served until February 1979, appearing on occasion as King Hildebrand in Princess Ida (1977) and more frequently as Pish-Tush in The Mikado (1978 North American tour).

Upon leaving the D'Oyly Carte, Mitchell spent seven years in West End musicals, including Hello Dolly with Carol Channing, the ill-starred Barnardo (Royalty Theatre, 1980), Evita, My Fair Lady, and Me and My Girl. In 1986 he created the role of the Mayor of Merano in the first London production of Chess. In 1985 he understudied The Prime Mikado in The Metropolitan Mikado at Royal Festival Hall and Queen Elizabeth Hall.

From 1990 to 2006, Richard Mitchell was a member of the English National Opera. As chorister and principal understudy, he has appeared in roles in Macbeth, Gianni Schicchi, Eugene Onegin, War and Peace, and Madam Butterfly. He also covered Ko-Ko in Jonathan Miller's version of The Mikado at the London Coliseum during ENO's 2005-06 season.

Upon leaving ENO he moved to Australia. There he sang with Opera Australia, taking principal roles roles including Captain Corcoran in H.M.S. Pinafore, and Pish-Tush and Pooh-Bah in The Mikado. There he also covered Major General Stanley in The Pirates of Penzance. Mitchell also sang principal roles, including Captain Corcoran and Pooh-Bah, with the Rockdale Opera Company in Sydney.

Since returning to England, Mitchell has given talks at the Norfolk and Norwich Gilbert & Sullivan Society (2015-16), and sang Phantis in Utopia, Limited with them in 2017. He also directed and conducted The Yeomen of the Guard for East Norfolk Operatic in 2016.

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