IOLANTHE (Sullivan) Sydney Opera House 1976

[@GemeinschaftHQ]

I would kill to see this in high quality. I love Dennis Olsen so much! He's so spritely and just an absolute joy to watch. Superb and captivating in every G&S Opera I've seen him in. This whole cast though especially with Heather Begg is just absolutely incredible.

[@richardcleveland8549]

I came to this BECAUSE of Dennis Olsen!

[@karldelavigne8134]

Dennis Olsen is absolutely brilliant, up there with the best probably including Grossmith and Lytton.

[@annepassman946]

The singing is wonderful. Heather Begg and Dennis Olsen are terrific. Absolutely superb. Wish I could have seen in the flesh, so to speak.

[@margueritejohnson8373]

DennisOlsen and Heather Begg were great in Patience with Anthony Warlow

[@BethDiane]

This is one of the few where the fairies achieve the level of fearsomeness required for the Act I Finale. And where the Peers are actually charismatic enough to attract the fairies.

[@aletaheidt331]

I am watching this on KZbin at this moment. It is absolutely marvelous...

[@Tocsin-Bang]

Super production!

[@danilo22uk]

I actually watched this on television when it was first broadcast. Thanks so much.

[@andrewdeakin7078]

I wish I had seen Denis Olsen live. Even on my iPhone his talent, wit, and skill shown in this production cones across in spades. Thanks for posting this.

[@vcaus]

Marvellous! Thanks so much, Brian. I missed the TV broadcast and now can finally see it. Love how the audience silently enjoys the overture as a prelude to the piece. These days without something to look at, an audience would talk all the way through.

[@BethDiane]

That was a rare era. If it makes you feel any better, people have always talked over the orchestra. They used to go to the opera to see and be seen as much as they went to be entertained. The whole reason operas start with overtures is to tell audiences when to stop talking because the show is about to start. And the whole reason Haydn is riddled with random pauses is to shame anyone in the audience who was talking through his music.

[@charlenekravec1461]

For what it's worth, Sullivan was incensed that the audience would chatter through the overtures. He angrily asked why he should work so hard on an overture when the audience doesn't listen to it!

[@coloraturaElise]

Oh, I've never seen this version....thanks so much for sharing!

[@madgeson]

Wonderful!

[@martind349]

The audience pans are gold

[@grahammorgan3858]

I saw Denis in several G&S in the late 60s early 70s....he was just a fabulous performer in these roles....far better than the London Doili Cart series that I saw in London in 73. Wonderful memories revisited by Utube Many many thanks

[@ballaratboy1]

Wonderful, thanks for uploading Brian.

[@stevielove4778]

“I SHALL COME OF AGE IN 2 YEARS--“ oh dang. What part of Europe had ladies coming of age at 60?

[@michaelparker719]

Brian, this is wonderful. Well sung and a stylish production. Thanks for posting.

[@michaelparker719]

These were great days at the Australian Opera.

[@joanndobrovic3950]

Looks like a really bad VHS recording off the TV. Still brings back lots of good memories!

[@ErnestSDavis1]

The video quality is not great, the fairies were certainly not hired for their dancing, and in 1976 June Bronhill was almost 3 times Phyllis' supposed age --- which is a stretch, even for opera. Still, this is the best version of Iolanthe I've ever seen. Dennis Olsen and Heather Begg are marvelous as always. Thanks enormously for posting!

[@sharongelfand5065]

I think the fairies' choreography was deliberately heavy-footed (lol), like "With catlike tread."

[@GemeinschaftHQ]

I agree, I think this version leans more into the silly/whimsical comedy of it all. 'We are dainty little fairies...' CLOMP CLOMP CLOMP CLOMP

[@MichaelDG2023]

She sounds great for her age, though, doesn’t she? Her type of voice often starts to decline well before her age (45).

[@tonycoombs9064]

@@sharongelfand5065 sound quality appealing. Sounds as if mic was pushed in the double bass.

[@tashwhimpey8114]

Thanks for uploading it again, did Opera Australia ever do The Mountebanks? Is there any chance you have a recording of that? Thank you

[@tashwhimpey8114]

@@robertmwoodley1502 ohh :'( 'tis a shame. Thanks for telling me though.

[@alisonrhodes7312]

Goo grief! There were no sopranos available under the age of 50 to play Phyllis?

[@paulheffron4836]

June Bronhill would have been 46-47 at this time. i thought she was a charmer.

[@alisonrhodes7312]

@@paulheffron4836 sorry Paul. I should not have been ageist. Right now I am so starved of G and S, Shakespeare etc that I would not care if she was 150 years old.

[@zelalife2559]

This is what G&S should be like, it should be direct performance, not those smart-aleck "the genius in creativity."