Grand Duke, The - D'Oyly Carte Opera Chorus/Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Advantages: Not well known but is an important bridge in the historic cycle
Disadvantages: Not well known and quite dated

...-disc box set is part of the complete set of operas recorded by the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company and released by DECCA. John Reed gives a creditable account of the grizzled King Gama – you can almost hear him leer in that ‘celebrated sneer’. The other soloists are in good voice and the orchestra is in its usual sparkling form. The second CD is completed with a performance of the Pineapple Poll ballet suite. This is a pot pourri of snatches of tunes taken from the operas and put together into a short (45 minute) dance story in three scenes. Mackerras notes that it was not unusual for Sullivan to recycle motifs himself. The whole work is a good ‘music quiz’ for Savoyards and the insert booklet identifies the individual sources for when you get stuck. PRINCESS IDA - Gilbert & Sullivan (1965) The D’Oyly Carte Opera Company The Royal... Read review

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Advantages: The final flourish from Britain's best loved Classical duo.
Disadvantages: Patchy musically with some pleasant "highs"; rather weak and ponderous libretto.

...was awarded an OBE in 1977 and retired from the Company in 1979. This musical set is completed with two of Sullivan's orchestral pieces. "Overture di Ballo" - is a stand-alone work (of about ten minutes) written for the Birmingham Festival of 1870. It is a light-hearted piece with typical Sullivan tunes and orchestration. Sullivan also wrote incidental music for a number of the stage productions of Sir Henry Irving. "Henry VIII" is one such piece and two of the themes ("March" and "Graceful Dance") conclude the album THE GRAND DUKE - Gilbert & Sullivan (1975) The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra: Conducted by Royston Nash Soloists: John Reed (Grand Duke Rudolph); John Ayldon (Prince of Monte Carlo) Jon Ellison (Ben Hashbaz); Michael Rayner (Dr Tannenbaum) Julia Goss (Julia Jellicoe); Meston Reid (Ernest... Read review

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Advantages: The most popular, the most perfect, the most performed
Disadvantages: None

...of comic baritones going directly back to George Grossmith. His diction in even the fastest of the patter songs defied belief for its clarity. The other soloists are all highly competent in their roles. The orchestral sound is crisp, clear and bright. This recording is one of a series featuring all the popular operettas performed by the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company originally released by DECCA on the London label. This recording features the musical libretto but without the words. My CD copy comes from 1985 and is still in print. It is an Analogue to Digital Remaster. I can heartily recommend it. THE MIKADO - Gilbert & Sullivan (1973) The D’Oyly Carte Opera Company The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra: Conducted by Royston Nash. Soloists: John Reed (Ko-Ko); Colin Wright (Nanki-Poo) Kenneth Sandford (Pooh-Bah); Valerie Masterson (Yum... Read review

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