Resource id #76
Image Source: Wikipedia

Derek Oldham

Derek Oldham (29 March 1887 – 20 March 1968) was an English singer and actor, best known for his performances in the tenor roles of the Savoy Operas with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company.

After performing in concerts as a boy soprano and working as a bank clerk, Oldham began a professional performing career in 1914. With the outbreak of World War I, he joined the Scots Guards, serving with valour. After the war, he joined the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, singing the tenor leads in the Gilbert and Sullivan operas for three years. He then starred in musicals and operettas in the West End in the 1920s, including Madame Pompadour, The Merry Widow, Rose-Marie and The Vagabond King. He returned to the D'Oyly Carte for brief periods from 1929 to 1937.

Oldham continued singing, recording and acting through the 1940s, also appearing in several films. He concentrated on legitimate theatre in the 1950s, acting until the age of 70. He maintained a lifelong interest in Gilbert and Sullivan, serving as an officer of the Gilbert and Sullivan Society. He finally retired to Hampshire during the last ten years of his life.

Birth and Death Data: Born March 29, 1887 (Portsmouth), Died March 20, 1968 (Portsmouth)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1926 - 1931

Roles Represented in DAHR: tenor vocal

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Gramophone 0B750 10-in. 4/16/1931 Your eyes Winnie Melville ; Derek Oldham Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone 0B751 10-in. On or before 4/16/1931 My song of love Winnie Melville ; Derek Oldham Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone Cc9410 12-in. 11/8/1926 The Mikado D'Oyly Carte Opera Company ; Harry Norris ; Derek Oldham Male vocal chorus and soloist, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone Cc9464 12-in. 11/19/1926 The Mikado D'Oyly Carte Opera Company ; Aileen Davies ; Darrell Fancourt ; Elsie Griffin ; Bertha Lewis ; Henry A. Lytton ; Harry Norris ; Derek Oldham Mixed vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone Cc9467 12-in. 11/19/1926 The Mikado George Baker ; D'Oyly Carte Opera Company ; Harry Norris ; Derek Oldham ; Leo Sheffield Male vocal trio and duet, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone Cc9468 12-in. 11/19/1926 The Mikado D'Oyly Carte Opera Company ; Aileen Davies ; Beatrice Elburn ; Elsie Griffin ; Harry Norris ; Derek Oldham ; Leo Sheffield Mixed vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone Cc9469 12-in. 11/19/1926 The Mikado George Baker ; D'Oyly Carte Opera Company ; Elsie Griffin ; Doris Hemingway ; Harry Norris ; Derek Oldham Mixed vocal quartet, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone Cc9470 12-in. 11/22/1926 The Mikado D'Oyly Carte Opera Company ; Elsie Griffin ; Harry Norris ; Derek Oldham Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone Cc9488 12-in. 11/26/1926 The Mikado D'Oyly Carte Opera Company ; Darrell Fancourt ; Elsie Griffin ; Bertha Lewis ; Henry A. Lytton ; Harry Norris ; Derek Oldham Mixed vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone Cc9489 12-in. 11/26/1926 The Mikado George Baker ; D'Oyly Carte Opera Company ; Aileen Davies ; Beatrice Elburn ; Elsie Griffin ; Henry A. Lytton ; Harry Norris ; Derek Oldham ; Leo Sheffield Mixed vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone Cc9490 12-in. 11/26/1926 The Mikado D'Oyly Carte Opera Company ; Aileen Davies ; Beatrice Elburn ; Bertha Lewis ; Harry Norris ; Derek Oldham Mixed vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone Cc9491 12-in. 11/26/1926 The Mikado D'Oyly Carte Opera Company ; Elsie Griffin ; Bertha Lewis ; Harry Norris ; Derek Oldham Mixed vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone Cc9492 12-in. 11/26/1926 The Mikado George Baker ; D'Oyly Carte Opera Company ; Aileen Davies ; Beatrice Elburn ; Elsie Griffin ; Bertha Lewis ; Henry A. Lytton ; Harry Norris ; Derek Oldham ; Leo Sheffield Mixed vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone Cc11602 12-in. 9/20/1927 Trial by jury D'Oyly Carte Opera Company Chorus with orchestra; baritone vocal solo with chorus and orchestra; tenor vocal solo with chorus and orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone Cc11603 12-in. 9/20/1927 Trial by jury D'Oyly Carte Opera Company Tenor vocal solo with chorus and orchestra; baritone vocal solo with chorus and orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone Cc11604 12-in. 9/20/1927 Trial by jury D'Oyly Carte Opera Company Vocal duet (2 baritones) with male chorus and orchestra; vocal quartet (soprano, tenor, and 2 baritones) with chorus and orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone Cc11605 12-in. 9/20/1927 Trial by jury D'Oyly Carte Opera Company Vocal quartet (soprano, tenor, and 2 baritones), with orchestra ; vocal quintet (soprano, tenor, and 3 baritones) with chorus and orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone Cc11606 12-in. 9/20/1927 Trial by jury D'Oyly Carte Opera Company Vocal quintet (soprano, tenor, and 3 baritones) with chorus and orchestra; vocal duet (soprano, and tenor) with chorus and orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone Cc11646 12-in. 9/29/1927 Trial by jury D'Oyly Carte Opera Company Vocal quintet (soprano, 3 baritones, and bass), with chorus and orchestra; tenor vocal solo, with female chorus and orchestra ; vocal duet (2 baritones), with chorus and orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Oldham, Derek," accessed November 4, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/102215.

Oldham, Derek. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 4, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/102215.

"Oldham, Derek." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 4 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/102215

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

Feedback

Send the Editors a message about this record.