Iolanthe, 14. Act II - 'When all night long a chap remains'

[@cz2165]

What a great voice. The lyrics are still relevant in 2024!

[@rosharuo]

And maybe more relevant than 9 months ago now that the US Presidential election has passed away.

[@norsewolf1364]

The lyrics are wonderful, the diction too. Love G&S!

[@angelacooper2661]

The aria is in Bb major. I have played a Gilbert and Sullivan selection at Orchestra (on the viola) in a concert. There are impressive major first inversion chords such as Bb/D - wow!

[@oddish4352]

That reminds me of the old story of HMS Pinafore... during a performance, some roustabouts tried to steal the scenery. They were chased off empty-handed by the show's cast and crew in part because Gilbert, a stickler for realism, had outfitted the actors playing the ship's Marines with real bayonets.

[@ARCtheCartoonMaster]

LMAO, that is so funny!

[@verdew8181]

He sounds and looks so great it's easy to see why the Fairy Queen is tempted to fall down and worship him.

[@fritzbasset8645]

Best I've heard since Kenneth Sanford on the DC recording - also heard him in person.

[@pauldockree9915]

a year ago. and vote just as their leaders tell them to.

[@ChristianGeil0]

When all night long a chap remains On sentry-go, to chase monotony He exercises of his brains, That is, assuming that he's got any. Though never nurtured in the lap Of luxury, yet I admonish you, I am an intellectual chap, And think of things that would astonish you. I often think it's comical - Fal, lal, la! How Nature always does contrive - Fal, lal, la! That every boy and every gal That’s born into the world alive Is either a little Liberal Or else a little Conservative! Fal, lal, la! When in that House M.P.'s divide, If they’ve a brain and cerebellum, too, They’ve got to leave that brain outside, And vote just as their leaders tell 'em to. But then the prospect of a lot Of dull M. P.’s in close proximity, All thinking for themselves, is what No man can face with equanimity. Then let’s rejoice with loud Fal la - Fal la la! That Nature always does contrive - Fal lal la! That every boy and every gal That’s born into the world alive Is either a little Liberal Or else a little Conservative! Fal lal la!

[@itscleto8961]

Christian Geil thanks very helpful!!

[@philiplancaster9668]

@@itscleto8961 To which I would add...... Then let's rejoice with loud Fal la - Fal la la! That Nature always does contrive - Fal la la! That every boy and every girl That's born into the world down here Is either a sour Remainer Or else a swivel-eyed Brexiteer!

[@angelacooper2661]

Can you imagine this in the Palace of Westminster? What would Sir Keir Starmer think given that the Labour Party didn't exist in those days? Uproar in the House!!!

[@deewesthill1213]

Boy and gal, liberal or conservative? -- that's so binary! 😃

[@angelacooper2661]

​@@deewesthill1213I didn't know that you were a mathematician!!!

[@MichaelDG2023]

I am being called back for Willis and Mountararat. I have four days to prepare two arias, a trio, a quartet, and a bunch of dialogue. I am grateful to you for these uploads!

[@angelacooper2661]

I would like to see this sung outside the House of Commons at Westminster! Perhaps the members of the House might sit up and take notice!

[@MrsSedley]

The great, much-missed Richard Van Allan. Please credit. We've also just lost the wonderful Keel Watson, who sang Private Willis in the ENO revival of Iolanthe.

[@williamyoung6601]

Played Private Willis in 1966.

[@willam1992]

wounderful

[@brianappleby5112]

Must be Richard van Allen singing this? Superb.

[@rosecurran9048]

I think Gilbert was an incredible lyricist. Has anyone noticed you can take the final comment two ways? Either a "little" liberal, etc. - meaning a "little bit" Liberal - or a "little" Liberal, meaning a "little tot or child" Liberal, etc. Do you think he meant it either way? I do!

[@dolvaran]

Since the song refers to children being born one of each, I think the sentiment is pretty clear!

[@angelacooper2661]

This should be sung outside the House of Commons at Westminster!

[@ARCtheCartoonMaster]

The cheesy green-screen effect reminds me of that nursery rhymes video Caddicarus reviewed.

[@tomshea8382]

The artwork is bitchin' though, and I would love to see an Iolanthe that took place on scenery designed to look like pen-and-ink drawings. Or maybe watercolors for the first act, since the fairies own the natural world, and then pen-and-ink B/W for the second since we're in Punch-land. In any case they must have had a shortage of film because they ignored all the rallantandro in the score.

[@pauldockree9915]

They have got to leave that brain outside. If they have got any.

[@angelacooper2661]

Tell Sir Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner that then!!!

[@figaro248]

Wonderful performance! who is the singer and where did the performance take place? Fa la la...

[@tomdissonance]

figaro248 it was never a staged performance, as such. it's from a film version of the opera made by the Brent Walker company in 1982. more info: gasdisc.oakapplepress.com/iolwalk.htm

[@jamesb.8940]

No mention of Pte. Willis in the cast list, alas :(

[@tbessie]

It seems to be the same guy who was in the TV version of The Mikado - "Richard Van Allan"... kzbin.info/www/bejne/boTOgIqumMetpJI

[@peterwalters6924]

Hello, Yes you're right - this is most certainly Richard Van Allan. I saw him regularly when he was a principal bass at English National Opera. A splendid performer!

[@chriscann7627]

@@peterwalters6924 @figaro248 - yes, it is the very great and sadly lamented bass Richard van Allen, one of the great ENO singers from the 70s to the 90s. He famously created the role of Pooh-Bah in Jonathan Miller's famous black-and-white Mikado at ENO and was a regular there until his retirement. They also did a few special productions for him, most notably a rare staging of Massenet's gorgeous Don Quixote.

[@bacon-wrappedrainbows7565]

Who is the singer and what production/year is this from?

[@tomshea8382]

The singer is Richard van Allan, who also sang Pooh-Bah in the ENO Mikado with Eric Idle.

[@japhfo]

That's not Grenadier Guards tunic, I'm afraid. Rookie error

[@edronuk7656]

It looks pretty close to me. Try comparing to images on Google or in reference books

[@japhfo]

Quite right. It was a pun