THE GONDOLIERS Gilbert & Sullivan - Scottish Opera

Two happy-go-lucky Venetian gondoliers, Marco and Giuseppe, discover that one of them is heir to the throne of a distant kingdom. True to their (adopted) republican roots, they set off together to rule in an idealistic if somewhat chaotic style…
OperaVision’s first ever stream of a comic opera by Gilbert and Sullivan, The Gondoliers is a charming poke at the appeals and pitfalls of rulership, privilege and cronyism. Scottish Opera’s production, made in collaboration with D’Oyly Carte Opera Company and State Opera South Australia, is directed with verve by Stuart Maunder, and Scottish Opera’s music director, Derek Clark, conducts one of Arthur Sullivan’s most attractive and affecting scores. ‘Take a pair of sparkling eyes’ with its lyrical grace is probably the most famous number of the opera and the Act II quartet is probably the cleverest as individual voices break out furiously from a moment of artificial calm. 'The Gondoliers is a glorious confection’, says Maunder, ‘the sunniest, most joyous of the Savoy scores, jam-packed with star roles, all unforgettable. It’s an irresistible helping of relentless joy.'
Full performance streamed on OperaVision from 4 May 2024 at 19:00 CET to 4 August 2024 at 12:00 CET: operavision.eu/performance/go...
CAST
Marco Palmieri
William Morgan
Giuseppe Palmieri
Mark Nathan
Gianetta
Ellie Laugharne
Tessa
Sioned Gwen Davies
The Duchess of Plaza-Toro
Yvonne Howard
The Duke of Plaza-Toro
Richard Suart
Don Alhambra del Bolero
Ben McAteer
Casilda
Catriona Hewitson
Antonio
Arthur Bruce
Luiz
Dan Shelvey
Inez
Cheryl Forbes
Giorgio
Oskar McCarthy
Fiametta
Zoe Drummond
Vittoria
Flora McDonald
Giulia
Grace Wain
Francesco
Osian Wyn Bowen
Orchestra
Scottish Opera Orchestra
Chorus
The Chorus of The Gondoliers
Music
Arthur Sullivan
Text
William S. Gilbert
Conductor
Derek Clark
Director
Stuart Maunder
Sets & Costumes
Dick Bird
Light
Paul Keogan
Choreography
Isabel Baquero
Assistant choreographer
Lucy Burns
Film director
Jonathan Haswell
OperaVision is a freeview opera streaming platform, supported by the European Union's Creative Europe programme. Watch live streams as the performances themselves unfold in the opera house. Enjoy a variety of shows - including opera, operetta, musical theatre, dance, ballet and concerts. Opera connaisseur or curious newcomer, there is something for everyone on OperaVision.
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[@jaydoggy9043]

Whoever came up with that idea for the duchess's costume: I hope all of your microwaved leftovers come out the perfect temperature on the first try. I hope all traffic lights instantly turn green for you. I hope as you clean your home you find that thing you lost. I hope that new recipe you wanted to try turns out delicious. I hope you get a call from an old friend and you meet back up for coffee. I hope an old enemy phones you to apologize. I hope you try a new restaurant and it becomes your family's favourite. I hope there's no queue at the grocery store. And finally: I hope when you have to phone customer service: the wait time is less than thirty seconds.

[@arielcahn7728]

It is indeed brilliant! I only noticed that the "bull horns" were actually a _gondola_ halfway through the second act. XD

[@ralphwortley1206]

Frankly, it's overdone. The important thing in comedy and light opera is that you must appear not be be conscious of making a joke. The audience must see the joke.That was Gilbert's principle, and the D'oyley Carte production followed that rule with success.

[@arielcahn7728]

@@ralphwortley1206 I see where you're coming from and agree that satire absolutely works well that way, but I feel that being conscious of making a joke also works. It's all subjective; both approaches work in different ways and it's up to the director to decide how to present the comedy. Perhaps that isn't perfectly in-line with how Gilbert wished to set the opera, but there's nothing wrong with diverging from the creator's vision in the name of art. Perhaps it's not funny in the way that Gilbert would have liked it to be funny, but it's still _funny._

[@garyabbott3861]

I know the first names of everyone who works for my doctor's answering service.

[@robertreynolds7135]

Wonderful to see a production that treats what may be the finest G&S collaboration with such respect without turning it into a museum piece. The performers all seem to be enjoying themselves and getting into the spirit of the thing. The directorial touches - like the sight gags worked into the costuming, and the interpolations in the Duke's Act II song - are light, deft, and tasteful, unlike the directorial conceits that weigh down and distort all too many productions of theater (e.g., of Shakespeare) and musical classics nowadays in pursuit of novelty.

[@markbeck8384]

Thanks Operavision for giving us some Gilbert & Sullivan. I love Opera, Ballet; but an occasional Operetta is so much fun!

[@theon9575]

🤔 ... mmmm. I wonder where we draw the line?

[@ralphwortley1206]

"Comic Opera" - Gilbert

[@theon9575]

@@ralphwortley1206 “Comic opera”. Thank you. OK. So this includes ‘Gianni Schicci’ and ‘Falstaff’ and ‘Barber of Seville’, ‘Die Fledermaus’ etc.. any opera that’s a comedy? And must the comedy be socially satirical? Does ‘Zauberflöte’ count too? Seems like a very broad definition from the librettist 🧐. And the composer in the duo, Sir Arthur Sullivan… I wonder what he thought? Gilbert’s narrow 2-word, plot-based definition lumps ‘Falstaff’ and ‘Trial by Jury’ together into the same category.

[@janach1305]

It was Gilbert and Sullivan that got me started on opera fifty years ago.

[@VB-cg1su]

Thank you for showing this performance. Everyone who participated in it was terrific! Please try to show more of Gilbert & Sullivan. They wrote so many wonderful operettas, all of them with lyrics that for the most part are as pertinent today as when Gilbert wrote them.

[@jeffsmith1798]

Thank you, OperaVision, for bringing the great culture of Opera to everyone!

[@NMGH]

Wonderful. This is the first production that let me forget the Canadian production from the 1990's. I hope you produce more G&S operas in the future! I have never understood why they are looked down on as if they aren't as important as "real" opera.

[@happydeathman]

@@wordscapes5690 You do you, of course, but I think your opinion of Sullivan's music puts you in a minority of one.

[@erinharkiewicz7239]

@@wordscapes5690 "Come now, be honest, they are musically horrendous. " That's a pretty minority opinion. Especially among musicologists

[@paulglobus9999]

Excellent performance. As lively as it gets. First rate. Thank you.

[@theon9575]

Wonderful!! Thank you, Scottish Opera‼️

[@elenacamoirano595]

Very good performance,thanks for so beautiful moment.

[@SleepyCatCottage]

What grand fun. So glad to find this on KZbin. Thank you.

[@ralphwortley1206]

Yes, and the sound was good quality, too.

[@ambbarofficial]

Thanks for bringing culture to remote parts of the world.

[@johnkuhne7870]

Thanks for posting. Was a gondolier in our school production in the 1950s. Very enjoyable!

[@indemidova]

Great opera. Thank you, OperaVision for sharing .

[@MJJCashman]

To start, Wow! To see a truthful, serious approach to these gems is to see their luster, much as they shone to the original viewers. These were innovative works. So impressed. On to act two.

[@user-ky5od6cr4w]

Maravilloso asistir a esta bellísima obra. Gracias infinitas por compartir.

[@gregcleveland5634]

Loving this production of The Gondoliers!! I was in at Interlochen Music Camp way back in the early 70’s. How splendid it was to see and hear this! Brava! And thank you!

[@tinapeters5725]

Thank you Delightful! Wonderful Talent! still out there, More Please 💐💐💐

[@johnedreslin]

Wonderful production. Nice to hear great singers and a full orchestra.

[@Cltleiipd07]

Oh I rember this version! Hewitson & Shelvey wonderful in their roles, Richard Suart almost stealing the show and a pretty good production overall. Thank you OperaVision for making it visible outside the British Isles!

[@PeterWeeks]

Watched this tonight. Great production - magnificent voices, fabulous costumes

[@lukelovell144]

Magnificent performance. Thanks for putting it online. A perfect combination of a new production that respects venerable traditions. Truly first rate.

[@jobatridente2638]

..., deliciosamente maravilhosa esta peça: intérpretes, figurinos, iluminação, direção, orquestra etc etc!!! ..., valeu OperaVision.

[@paulhall170]

Could G&S be in safer hands than those of its renowned lover Stuart Maunder? Thank you, sir! Poor Sullivan, so insecure of his place in the duo; his harmonies here especially are sublime! There are not enough adjectives to describe this boisterous, beautiful, sumptuous rendition of Gilbert and Sullivan's most melodious Comic Opera BRAVO!!!!!!!!!!!

[@dad675]

What a superb production. I have waked out of many productions but this one i wish i was there to cheer and applaud . everything was perfect.. thank you.

[@nemo4evr]

Thank you thank you thank you for this.

[@davidthom9159]

Saw HMS Pinafore with my father years ago and we both thoroughly enjoyed it. Wish there were more productions of GandS in our city. This looks like fun.

[@stevehope2334]

Excellent production 👍

[@cats1900]

I am so excited about this

[@user-wx5kb7vc3d]

Прекрасное представление, а в Мариинском театре который я живя в Санкт Петербурге имею счастье часто посещать нет этой оперы в репертуаре, сейчас посмотрю.

[@NorthernSeaShore]

Magnificent!

[@MJJCashman]

Watching this again. Noticing small differences in how I’m used to hearing this sung & am enjoying the verve & grace of these performances. Again, wow.

[@mertvyjkosmos]

Thanks for posting, but do not delete it in future - as you done with many of your previous full opera uploads please.

[@Hermes1548]

Gracias. Danke. Thank You.

[@jrdh2012]

what a wonderful, delightful performance!

[@creambabyjazz]

ThankU❤

[@wzdavi]

Brilliant production!

[@luciusscaevolus8616]

Bravooooooooo!

[@user-bc9mn7gq2c]

A lot to appreciate here ... Personally I dont think Gilbert is given enough credit for the lyrical quality of his verse. Sullivan said it best in a letter to his mother: Gilbert's libretti "are beautifully written _for music_".

[@toucan3144]

Overture: 0:06 - Allegro vivace 1:56 - Allegretto grazioso 3:51 - Allegretto, tempo di gavotte ACT I. - The Piazzetta, Venice 5:36 - List and Learn 9:03 - Good morrow, pretty maids 10:28 - For the merriest fellows are we 12:12 - See, see, at last they come to make their choice 12:43 - Buon' giorno, singorine! 15:09 - We're called gondolieri, But that's a vagary 17:31 - And now to choose our brides! 18:44 - Are you peeping? 20:34 - Thank you gallant gondolieri 23:10 - From the sunny Spanish shore 31:41 - In enterprise of martial kind 33:29 - O rapture, when alone together 38:09 - There was a time, a time forever gone 43:28 - I stole the prince and I brought him here 47:14 - But, bless my heart, consider my position 48:12 - Try we life-long 50:16 - Bridegroom and bride 51:07 - When a merry maiden marries 59:55 - Kind sir, you cannot have the heart 1:03:08 - Do not give way to this uncalled for grief 1:03:50 - Then one of us will be a queen 1:06:58 - Replying, we sing as one individual 1:07:50 - For everyone who feels inclined 1:09:08 - Come, let's away, our island crown awaits me 1:11:00 - Now Marco dear, my wishes hear 1:13:57 - Then away they go to an island fair ACT II. - Pavilion in the Palace of Barataria 1:16:21 - Of happiness the very pith 1:20:39 - Rising early in the morning 1:24:45 - Take a pair of sparkling eyes 1:28:24 - Here we are at the risk of our lives 1:29:53 - After sailing to this island 1:32:54 - Dance a Cachucha, fandango bolero 1:37:17 - There lived a king, as I've been told 1:45:00 - In a contemplative fashion 1:47:30 - With ducal pomp and ducal pride 1:48:33 - This polite attention 1:51:14 - On the day when I was wedded 1:55:14 - To help unhappy commoners 1:55:40 - Small titles and orders for mayors and recorders 2:02:18 - I am a courtier grave and serious 2:07:04 - Here is a case unprecedented 2:08:34 - Now let the loyal lieges gather round 2:09:25 - Speak woman speak, we're all attention 2:09:46 - The royal prince was by the king entrusted 2:10:56 - Luiz! Casilda! 2:12:50 - Once more gondolieri

[@sharonreichter2537]

Wonderful!

[@missasinenomine]

I will never never never never watch such fri-vol-i-ty again.

[@garyabbott3861]

A G&S company back in the 'fifties, summered in Maine at a beautiful piece of theater architecture in Monmouth, a short distance out of the capitol. In more recent years it was the home of the Maine State Shakespeare Festival.

[@dianawhite943]

Many older audiences know every single lyric by heart, must be a nightmare for the cast!

[@ralphwortley1206]

I think I qualify in that regard. My first G&S was rather truncated, on 78 rpm records, in 1949

[@MaestroWenarto]

BEST G AND S EVER

[@kathy851122]

정말 감사합니다 좀처럼 접하기 힘든 작품을 이리 올려주시니 거실이 오페라하우스 R석이 부럽지 않네요 정말 감사합니다 ❤❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@pauledwards4333]

Brilliant

[@garyabbott3861]

Every video of a performance of any work for the theatre is a significant historical document. We have no recorded film images of Ada Rehan.

[@MaestroWenarto]

I cannot wait, this looks fun

[@melaniamonicacraciun9900]

Keep calm fans & love spreading good vibes, let them web technologies work for you & connect people for those who need to become Opera lovers from now on, seems to me you are doing a great job indeed, yeah, freedom of expression is the best time of our lives, you can bet on it 🎉❤🎉

[@richardcleveland8549]

A fine performance, now that I've watched all of it. The Grand Inquisitor (a favorite character of mine!) was the best of the lot, but the rest of the cast was also very good. Bravo!

[@ralphwortley1206]

Yes, he was a real pro. But a good and exuberant cast.

[@LeonoraBassisty104]

Superbe.

[@MJJCashman]

Wonderful! Almost too much with Inez, but it worked.

[@jozefstraka4]

Bravo!!!👍Perfectlly👉🇸🇰Bratislava.

[@securityrobot]

I will take a punt and watch this.

[@MichaelHoare-bh5pg]

I sometimes think that G+S is underrated but at best G+S is musical theatres answer to Shakespeare. Like Shakespeare Gilbert and Sullivan lends itself to innovative updates.

[@danharrodian]

Excellent lighting

[@ralphwortley1206]

Now that I think of it, yes. The virtue of good lighting is that you don't notice it.

[@rossklatte7073]

The lyrics are so fast and so clever that sometimes I cannot keep up even reading the subtitles. Did an English live audience of 1889 understand everything?

[@ralphwortley1206]

May I quote Sir William's words as in the Biography? "Sir Arthur's music is undoubtely very attractive, but I believe that my words are not altogether unworthy of consideration AND I WOULD LIKE THEM HEARD!:

[@valeriebrotons1394]

La version de l'Opéra de Sydney dans les années 90 est insurpassable, surtout la Cachucha !

[@theon9575]

Opera de Sydney???? You mean the Australian Opera?

[@zelalife2559]

Choreographer is good,But the new lyrics are terrible

[@valeriebrotons1394]

Yes, sorry 😊​@@theon9575

[@davidking663]

That was actually Brian Fitzgerald’s production from Toronto. Great fun, and they cut the Gavotte [it helps the 2nd act, in fact].

[@theon9575]

@@davidking663 Many thanks for that info. I'm not sure how it helps the second act ... I can see that the story line perhaps moves on more quickly, and so it might "help" dramatically, but to leave out a delicious musical orchestral bon-bon like the Gavotte sure does not "help" it musically. (Unless the singers were such bad dancers that it's easier without). I guess it's taste, but I agree with G&S that it's better over-all with it in.

[@D.E.P.-J.]

Thank goodness for the subtitles. Hardly any of the words are clear enough to hear.

[@heatherhoward2513]

You havent seen australian opera's performance of this, laughed all the way through, back in the 90's, with Denis Olsen.

[@ralphwortley1206]

Theirs was good, with the added virtue of professional opera singers. Their habit of jokey additions is distracting; people popping out of barrels to sing, or, in Pinafore, being hoised on board by a huge crane diminishes the general tone.

[@joshbenda351]

Considering how modern directors "re-imagine" operas, I am grateful that this is not set in a Soviet work camp or Chinese restaurant... the costumes are gorgeous - and funny! Love those Plaza-Toros - and the cast's obvious pleasure is infectious... but someone has to cut out 2/3 of the lighting cues. The shifts are overdone and distracting - more disco than Venice. And on such a small stage there is absolutely no need for so much use of the spotlight, which makes a beautifully designed production look like a cheap music hall turn.

[@ralphwortley1206]

I agree. Believe it or not, the two worst-set production I ever saw were self-indulgent farragos at the Royal Opera House in London; however the best Marriage of Figaro I ever saw was also at the ROH.

[@pauljmeyer1]

It is wonderful to see such high production values; Alas! Opera in Australia is not supported well at all, and is operating on 'shoe-string budgets'.

[@ralphwortley1206]

That is sad to hear; more thanks then to the excellent cast.

[@user-kc5ht8wj4y]

What's the deal with Casilda's eye patch? It kept switching from right to left eye.

[@1pureboy1]

That’s the joke!

[@prchristman]

@@1pureboy1 A joke? Or the film incorporating the shows of October 28 -- 30, 2021, and the patch moving from eye to eye over the three days. Whatever. I enjoyed the show. 😉

[@1pureboy1]

@@prchristmanwe saw this live in London, the audience were soon in on the joke and laughed every time it moved.

[@prchristman]

@@1pureboy1 OK ... I switch. Thanks for the information. (Not that it hasn't happened. Wagner's Ring: Switched from hand to hand in Siegfried (Acts 2 and 3 -- I don't imply that Fafner did this early in Act 2).

[@robertlambeaux897]

You don't know pour classics... It's a parody of Eboli , in Verdi's Don Carlo !

[@missasinenomine]

It's only G&S......................but I like it. Yes I do!

[@seanlatimer5871]

It’s not text; it’s libretto in Opera 😳

[@JohnSmith-zq9mo]

Never heard this one before. Gilbert did his job, but I can't say I think the music is up to Sullivan's best works.

[@ralphwortley1206]

I suppose "best" is always a matter of personal opinion, but I would put Pinafore and The Pirates joint first. My wife and I had no option but to do a 1500 Km drive on rather ordinary roads. When it came to night-time, to keep ourselves awake, we sang Pinafore from memory, yet never having acted in it, or indeed anything else.

[@richardcleveland8549]

Interesting performance . . . but, where, oh WHERE, are the laughs???

[@samueljimenez1]

At last. One English language opera that is interesting.

[@karldelavigne8134]

All of the Savoy Operas are interesting.

[@harrilmullany2786]

Great visual production and audio. Unfortunately this highlights the bad acting & diction of these singers whose operatic sounds render the words unintelligible. Happily, English captions are accessible which I had to turn on after 10 minutes of meaningless vocalising. Most of Gilbert’s humour falls flat from these characters who can’t seem to express genuine mirth. I’ll probably go back to the Canadian production on KZbin for a fun G & S experience.

[@ralphwortley1206]

Sir William agreed heartily with you at the time. It must be difficult to sing and be intelligible. Thank goodness for sub titles.