George Bentham (singer)

George Bentham (9 December 1843 – 25 March 1911) was an English tenor best remembered today for creating the role of Alexis in the Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera The Sorcerer in 1877.

Bentham gained a post in the War Office, and, being possessed of a fine tenor voice, by 1866 he became involved in amateur high society concerts, the first recorded being given by the Margate Volunteers at the local Assembly Rooms.

[1] In Scotland, with Mapleson's Italian opera company in early 1871, he sang the roles of Count Almaviva in The Barber of Seville and Elvino in La sonnambula.

The critic of The Glasgow Herald commented that despite the new tenor's palpable lack of stage experience, he was "a decided success", singing with "pure and refined taste … sweet, telling voice and gentlemanly bearing".

[1] Back with Mapleson, in Dublin, Bentham appeared as Tamino in The Magic Flute while his new wife played Smeton in Anna Bolena.

In 1874 he returned to Mapleson at Her Majesty’s Theatre in the title role of Faust, to familiar reviews: "To be frank, there is yet something to acquire and something to discard ere Mr Bentham will take that position which his excellent voice should enable him to do ultimately.

[6] His singing on the opening night was hampered by a bad cold, but even after he had recovered, the critics found his performance disappointing, marked by wooden acting and pallid characterisation.

[7] In March 1878, at Arthur Sullivan's request, he was asked to join Carte's touring company playing the opera in the British provinces;[8] George Power took over the role of Alexis in London.