Emma Howson

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Life and career

Emma Howson was born in Hobart Town, Tasmania, and performed as a child in concerts with her father, Francis (a baritone and conductor) and her brothers on tour throughout Australia.

At the suggestion of American actor Joseph Jefferson, the Howsons travelled to America where Emma began to perform in English opera as Amina in La Sonnambula (1866) as well as in comedy, drama, farce and burlesque. She achieved success in engagements in California, and the family troupe worked its way east, through Salt Lake City, where the Howsons were the first opera troupe seen by the Mormons. Emma's father died during that tour in 1869. The family eventually arrived in New York, where Emma performed in Wallace's "Maritana", and in other North American cities, playing roles in Auber's "Fra Diavolo", "The Bohemian Girl", "Martha", "Oberon", "The Marriage of Figaro", "Der Freischütz", and "Il Trovatore", among others. In 1873, she travelled to Europe with her brother Frank and studied in Milan for two years. She debuted in Malta in 1875 as Amina. In 1876, she toured in Italian operas in the English provinces with the Royal Italian Opera.

She joined Richard D'Oyly Carte's Comedy Opera Company at the Opera Comique in May 1878, creating the role of Josephine in "H.M.S. Pinafore". She earned excellent notices from the critics and was popular with audiences. "The Era" noted after the opening night, "Miss Emma Howson is one of the brightest, liveliest little ladies imaginable. She has a voice of charming quality, pure, sweet, and admirably in tune. Her singing at once established her in the good graces of the audience, and her acting was full of intelligence and comic talent."

Howson left the Opera Comique and D'Oyly Carte in April 1879. When she returned to the stage it was as leading lady in "The Beggar's Opera". In the early 1880s, she returned to America where she toured for about a dozen years in light opera and concert work, often with her brother as conductor. Her roles in America included Josephine in "Pinafore" and the title role in "Patience". She retired from the stage in the early 1890s, although she continued to teach voice. Her brother John Howson performed Gilbert and Sullivan frequently in America.

Howson died in New York at the age of 84 and was buried in Greenwood Cemetery.

References

*cite book|last=Ayre|first=Leslie|year=1972|title=The Gilbert & Sullivan Companion|location=London|publisher=W.H. Allen & Co Ltd Introduction by Martyn Green.
*Stedman, Jane and Hartley, Mildred H. "The First Josephine", in "The Gilbert & Sullivan Journal" Vol. IX, No. 14 (1970).

External links

* [http://math.boisestate.edu/gas/whowaswho/H/HowsonEmma.htm Emma Howson] at Who Was Who in the D'Oyly Carte
* [http://www.picturehistory.com/find/p/21553/mcms.html Profile and photo of Howson]
* [http://www.bklyn-genealogy-info.com/Newspaper/BSU/1928.Death.June.html obituary notice]