Gilbert and Sullivan

[douglasofdorset]

Hi Sean, I'm afraid I haven't heard the Sargent recording of The Mikado - I must do so!  I'm sure you are right about the Godfrey recordings.   

I think one of the reasons Sullivan is not more appreciated is the unapologetically class-based nature of Gilbert's texts, which is of course non-PC nowadays.  But he was writing at a time when one verse of All things bright and beautiful ran: 'The rich man in his castle, / The poor man at his gate, / God made them high and lowly / And ordered their estate'.  In fact Gilbert was laughing at the class-system - but he did take it as a given.

[douglasofdorset]

Continuing with my idea that Gilbert's lyrics often contain two verses where the second verse appears to contradict in some way the first, here is a better example - from 'Patience'.  At the opening of Act Two Lady Jane, who is past her prime, is discovered accompanying herself on the cello (according to the stage-direction).  She sings mournfully:

Silvered is the raven hair,
Spreading is the parting straight,
Mottled the complexion fair,
Halting is the youthful gait,
Hollow is the laughter free,
Spectacled the limpid eye;
Nothing will be left of me
In the coming by and by!

Fading is the taper waist,
Shapeless grows the shapely limb,
And, although severely laced,
Spreading is the figure trim.
Stouter than I used to be,
Still more corpulent grow I;
There will be too much of me
In the coming by and by!

I realize, of course, that this is more to do with Gilbert's words than Sullivan's music, but the two seem to go together like strawberries and cream, or Torvill and Dean - and just as Sullivan's music is typically English, so is Gilbert's humour.

[Sean]

Good stuff Douglas, Gilbert's lines tweaked Sullivan's style to produce some of the cleverest melodies in all English music, and there's never a dull moment. What never? Well, hardly ever.

[douglasofdorset]

...there's never a dull moment. What never? Well, hardly ever.

[Jaakko Keskinen]

Englishman song from HMS Pinafore is awesome. And the rest of the opera as well. Although there are people who complain about englishman song being Ultra-nationalist. I was quite surprised when I heard about that, I merely associated the song as part of completely natural patriotism that great many people feel about their homeland. Dick Deadeye seems more a designated villain than a real one, though.

[Wendell_E]

Although there are people who complain about englishman song being Ultra-nationalist. I was quite surprised when I heard about that, I merely associated the song as part of completely natural patriotism that great many people feel about their homeland.

I've always thought the whole point was to poke fun of such "natural patriotism".

[Jaakko Keskinen]

I've always thought the whole point was to poke fun of such "natural patriotism".

That also crossed my mind and if that's the case, it was pretty damn progressive for it's time, in the golden age of natural patriotism or even nationalism and colonialism. YMMV.

[listener]

I see there's a DVD set of 12 works  - 11 discs PAL  only so far much cheaper at MovieMail at £36.99 instead of £61.61
http://www.moviemail.com/film/dvd/The-Gilbert-and-Sullivan-Collection/?tag=6|