Dorothy Gill

British contralto opera singer born in India. Born 1891 in Mhow (Dr. Ambedkar Nagar), India. Died 7 April 1969 in London. For American chorus singer of 1950's-60's, see Dorothy Gill. Gill often sang with Peter Dawson and Derek Oldham. Gill was trained at the Guildhall School of Music, London and by Dr. Arnold Smith of the Royal College of Music, primarily for Oratorio and after appearing at the principal London and provincial concerts, was chosen to play the part of Lucy Locket in "The Beggar's Opera". This she did for three years including a season in Paris at the Theatre de Caumartin. Gill lived in India, Ceylon, South Africa, and France, where she entertained the troops during World War I. In December 1925 Miss Gill joined the D'Oyly Carte "New" Opera Company. In 1931 she went to Australia to play the principal contralto roles in the Gilbert & Sullivan operas. Gill was more popular in America than in the U.K. When the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company made it to New York in 1934, a book of tributes was written to the Company by fans and dedicated to Miss Gill and two years later had a petition to try to get her return.