Ruddigore (2008) - 'The Matter Trio'

[@orionexploding1112]

Wonderful! I like the idea of doing it slow first, most people never hear Gilbert's splendidly silly words. And the actions and expressions were hilarious. Bravo Southampton Operatic Society!

[@koosriedijk3872]

Fantastic. Compliments from the Netherlands. That was 2008, now 2021. Well, better late than never!

[@5610winston]

When I first heard this in a theater without the slower recitation I left puzzled and went to the library to look up the lyrics. I appreciated it more the second time I saw it in performance. BASINGSTOKE!

[@michaelwatkins1702]

I think it's a good idea doing it slowly the first time so that the audience can follow it the second time around. Full marks from me.

[@hrothgleas1]

Builds suspense, dontcha know...

[@WORLD8NSH5KNIGHT1]

I can only imagine the hours of rehearsals here! Excellent

[@ginawiggles918]

A very clever rendition. I liked the slow version followed by the rapid one.

[@malcolmdale]

I've never heard this sung so s-l-o-w-ly

[@JoshFreilich]

…keep watching…

[@mattpikesoton]

Well said bujurpb I am in total agreement with you, the adjudicater said that it was the first time that she had understood the words when they sang it slow and to me it is the best version I have seen/heard. Keep it going Soton Opera

[@michaelwatkins1702]

Having read all the other silly comments I am even more convinced that SOS's version is a splendidly well done approach so I don't care what anyone else says as it really doesn't matter, matter, matter.

[@richardleedham918]

Brilliant. My favourite version!

[@fosterpilkington]

Most entertaining! A piece that never fails to drag, me out of the darkest of moods! Like the hand actions. Bet at least one of you can go "red lorry, yellow lorry" very fast! Well done!

[@mehitabel1290]

First reaction: This is so SLOW as to be off the rateable scale........... But then it picks up. Big time! And yes, I agree with the comment that it's good to hear G's lyrics given a proper hearing (which they should always be, but often aren't). And it's a witty staging.

[@patparis9418]

so do I

[@jameshunter9266]

What utter nonsense, the whole point of the patter trio is that it goes fast, if you cant get the words out then dont sing it

[@EPA18]

I was going to agree with you, but then in the second half of the video, they did it quicker, albeit not very good.

[@michaelblum7366]

BASINGSTOKE!

[@manfredatee]

Are you sure about that?

[@RichBiev]

The tempo is bad but the staging is worse.

[@scorptile1]

the pirates version has been around since the early 80's and the actual play was made back in the 60's. but i agree the pirates version is way better

[@timselman1123]

Ruddigore was 1887 and Pirates was 1880. The Broadway versions were written around 100 years later! But this trio is originally from Ruddigore and not pirates, it was Broadway who stuck it in!

[@bookwoman53]

UGH!

[@Tocsin-Bang]

Probably the worst version I have ever heard. Destroys the whole idea of G&S patter songs. Even at this slow speed the diction is poor and the musicality is totally lost.

[@SeraphimCramer]

I think I like the Pirates of Penzance version better.

[@stevenmathers6661]

Except that it ISN'T from 'pirates', someone just interpolated it.

[@drnickyp]

far far far far far FAR tooooo SLOW!

[@JoshFreilich]

Don't worry it gets fast later... But then again, even THAT is too slow.

[@drnickyp]

Josh Freilich yes, i agree - this time i watched to the end - glad they did sing it faster, but why sing the song twice?

[@JoshFreilich]

Yes, why DID they sing the song twice? Comedy is always best in THREES. In all seriousness, I bet the reason why they sang the song twice is to do it slow the first time, then speed it up, pretty much the same reason why they sing "Here's a Howdja Do" as many as 10 times.

[@TedinNY]

Firstly, they sing it through slowly once so we can understand the text. Then they sing it through much faster - though not as fast as some

[@hrothgleas1]

To build suspense...

[@chrisdixon5193]

Waaaaay too slow in the beginning. It's supposed to be unintelligible like the song says.

[@jgirgis81]

WAy too fast to speak sorry this is great

[@anniespencer7879]

Singing it slowly helps the audience appreciate the words the first time and they do reprise it at full speed.

[@anthonybaratta6152]

I understand what they were trying to do... and I applaud them for it. Love artistic liberties and I love the fact they made it there own. However, I have to say the one thing that gets me is the fact that the lyrics cease to make sense when he says this particularly rapid unintelligible patter... when I can clearly understand him. For those saying it was the first time a person could understand the words when they sang it slow... well yeah but the lyrics indacate you're not supposed to.

[@szv202]

So, your complaint is that is that the particularly rapid unintelligible patter that generally cannot be heard can be heard in this case? If only the song's writers were clear about what their opinion is of the case where it is...oh yeah, it doesn't matter.

[@dimetronome]

This is NOT "particularly rapid unintelligible patter."

[@ImperatordeElysium]

The initial slow recitation doesn't really add anything at all to the piece, particularly as they're all enunciating clearly enough to be understood for the faster version. Which is in any case quite clearly evidenced in the lyrics to be the challenge and fun of the piece- the requirement of verbal dexterity to be understood at speed, but it not actually having any deep significance.

[@JWRogersPS]

I could only take 30 seconds of this. It's painful to watch them sing it so slow. G&S would be rolling over in their graves.

[@mensamoo]

slowly? why not. the fast version loses meaning.

[@Callithyia]

This particularly rapid, unintelligible patter isn't generally heard and if it is it doesn't matter! ;)

[@spencerfrancis7730]

The meaning doesn’t matter, that’s literally the point of the song

[@geoffsmith5452]

Both Gilbert and Sullivan must be "revolving" at speed! Worst rendition I've ever heard!! Far too "clever" ... 😠😠

[@marcusc9931]

it really doesn't matter

[@timothypoulter8285]

It's called a patter trio for a reason. This rendition just doesn't make any sense at all.

[@geoffsmith6230]

Far too slow!! This is a patter song. Both G&S will be revolvingat speed! Last verse Actually a tad too fast. Do them at the correct speed, don't try to be clever, doesn't work!

[@philiphaley5414]

No....

[@gurusage142]

TOOOOOOOOO SLOOOOOOOOOOW

[@begs54]

Here we are again with the stupid 18 encores. One of the of the worst if not the worst versions I have ever seen. Is this the same group that did "Yeoman of Guard" and had a post of that production on here?. Jack Point walked off stage and shot himself at the end of the opera I believe? I need say no more...

[@anniespencer7879]

I know, he should have shot Fairfax instead!

[@jasonhurd4379]

Absolutely dismal. It doesn't need to be gobbled out at a frenzied pace, but to do it so painfully slowly at first smacks of condescension and 'playing down' to the audience. The idea is clever, incorporating as it does the tradition of the second act trio in a Savoy opera being encored, but it just doesn't work. It is also of the utmost importance that each actor is able to sing his solo in a single breath. If only one is able to do it, it merely points up, glaringly, the deficiency of the other two. A for effort, D minus for execution.

[@lhrlyc]

appallingly slow

[@chris230230]

This won't do at all, more tempo please, it was written to be unintelligible... erm, I think the hint is in the lyrics lol. Don't like it lol Each to their own though

[@jenylogan1]

Dreadful !

[@SweeneyHyde]

I just ask myself why the slow bit was necessary... Slash the additions seem to be what they are trying to make funny... can't the music and lyrics stand by themselves? Staging helps... creative staging... again... don't really understand why, though.