THE D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

John C. Mullaly (cond., 1880, m.d., 1885-86)

[Born England c.1846, died Ashmont, Massachusetts 8 Feb 1934]

John C. Mullaly's musical career was launched at age fifteen, as a member of Gilmore's Band, at the time based in Salem, Massachusetts. He later played with the Boston Symphony, and eventually found his way into the theatre in that city, where he had the distinction of conducting America's first (pirated) production of H.M.S. Pinafore at the Boston Museum (November 25, 1878).

When D'Oyly Carte's First American Pirates of Penzance Company toured New England in March and April 1880, Mullaly conducted in the absence of Alfred Cellier on numerous occasions. Mullaly was later engaged by John Stetson as musical director for America's first production of Princess Ida (Fifth Avenue Theatre, New York, February-March 1884). While technically not a D'Oyly Carte production, it was produced with Carte's authority.

Stetson would later operate four American Mikado Companies under the D'Oyly Carte banner. Carte's Fourth American Mikado Company, which toured from December 1885 to March 1886, had Mullaly as its musical director.

Mullaly was also a minor composer of songs and marches, and an arranger of dance music. A "Pinafore Quadrille" arranged by Mullaly was published by W. H. Cundy, Boston, in 1879.

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