![\"5\"](\"http:\/\/www.bassettbranches.org\/newsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/5.jpg\")
<\/a>\nCharles O. Bassett, born Toledo Ohio<\/p>\n
A Year of Opera at the Castle Square Theatre
\nFrom May 6, 1895 to May 6, 1896
\nBy Charles Elwell French
\n(Includes picture of Charles O. Bassett)<\/p>\n
Charles O. Bassett was born in Toledo, O. He made several amateur appearances there, his most ambitious being in a production of \u201cThe Chimes of Normandy.\u201d Encouraged by his successes, he sailed abroad, and began studying in Italy. His teacher for three years was Vannuccini, in Florence, and for six months he studied with Lamperti in Milan. His first professional engagement was in Italy, and he filled engagements successively in seven theatres there, including the Dal Verme in Milan, the Tiatro dell Muse in Ancona, the theatres in Viadana and Pisa, and the Tiatro Nvoro in Florence.<\/p>\n
His American debut in Italian was at the Academy of Music, New York, where he sang under Mapleson\u2019s management with Mmes. Patti, Sealchi and others. His American debut in English was in \u201cFaust\u201d at the Academy of Music, Philadelphia, with the American Opera Company. He has been a member of the following companies: New York Casino, on year; The Bostonians, one season; the American Opera Company, the National Opera Company, Charles E. Locke\u2019s National Opera Company and Gustav Hinrich\u2019s America Opera Company, one year each; the Summer Opera Company for three seasons, in Philadelphia; the Boston Ideal Opera Company, one season, and the Duff Opera Company, three years.<\/p>\n
Mr. Bassett has been the original in English in America of the following parts in the operas named: Assad in Goldmark\u2019s \u201cQueen of Sheba,\u201d Turridu in Mascagni\u2019s \u201cCavalleria Rustleana;\u201d Clement in Missager\u2019s \u201cBascohe\u201d and in Edward\u2019s \u201cKing Rene\u2019s Daughter.\u201d Altogether he has done forty-two grand and twenty light operas. He has sung at concerts in London twice to royalty \u2013 once to Princess Mary of Teck, and once to her daughter Princess May, now Duchess of York the prospective Queen of England. His voice reaches high C when in its usual condition. His favorite opera is \u201cLohengrin,\u201d and for a solo he prefers the aria from \u201cLakme.\u201d His favorite part is Don Jose in \u201cCarmen\u201d. He joined the Castle Square Company for the first time in February of this year, signing Ralph Rackstraw in \u201cPinafore.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Charles Olmstead Bassett descends from #1B John Bassett of Connecticut as follows: John Bassett and wife Margery Robert Bassett and wife Mary Robert Bassett (b. 1640) and wife Elizabeth Riggs Samuel Bassett (b. 1692) and wife Deborah Bennett John Bassett … Continue reading