From 1877 to 1896, except for a foray into the business of theatrical management in 1888–89, Barrington remained with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, creating comic lyric baritone roles in all of Gilbert and Sullivan's new operas with the exception of The Yeomen of the Guard (1888). In 1878, he created the role of Lord Chamberlain in Albery's and Cellier's curtain raiser, The Spectre Knight, played the Counsel for the Plaintiff in the revival of Trial by Jury, and created the role of Captain Corcoran in Gilbert and Sullivan's first smash hit, H.M.S. Pinafore.
From 1877 to 1896, Barrington was with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company except for a theatrical management period from 1888–89. He created comic lyric baritone roles in all of Gilbert and Sullivan's new operas, excluding The Yeomen of the Guard (1888). In 1878, he introduced Lord Chamberlain in Albery's and Cellier's curtain raiser, The Spectre Knight; played Counsel for the Plaintiff in Trial by Jury's revival; and created Captain Corcoran in H.M.S. Pinafore, their first major success.