brocolini joined the d'oyly carte opera company in october 1879 in liverpool, england, playing dick deadeye in "h.m.s. pinafore" with one of carte's touring companies. in november, he traveled to new york to appear as captain corcoran in the first authorized american production of "pinafore" at the fifth avenue theatre, which premiered on december 1, 1879. he then created the role of the pirate king in "the pirates of penzance" on december 31, 1879 at the same theatre, earning a good notice from "the new york times". he continued to play the pirate king in new york and on tour through june 1880. after carte's production closed, brocolini played the pirate king in a non-d'oyly carte production, including in boston the last two weeks of july. carte sued brocolini in us federal court for breach of a contract to perform with d'oyly carte, and an order was entered against brocolini in august 1880 enjoining him from performing for any other company.