The Gondoliers The Proms (1997)

Description

[@johnmccann4429]

I sang the part of Marco 60 years ago at the age of 13. My "Take a pair of sparkling eyes" recieved an encore every night. I don't mind admitting that after 6 nights of hitting those high notes my voice was ready to give out completely. But it was one of the most wonderful experiences of my life.

[@karldelavigne8134]

Bravo!

[@richardallen3810]

Sullivan's melodic gift was pure genius. Despite wretched health he composed music of such beauty and ebullient joyfulness that the world has benefited from it greatly. Gilbert's words are as delightful over 150 years later.

[@karldelavigne8134]

Hear, hear! He was probably the greatest melodist of all time, outdoing Rossini, Offenbach and Verdi.

[@neiljosephbennett9119]

Only Sullivan could so effectively write a song in two time signatures. Brilliant.

[@FriendlyMusicManTV]

Love this. The voices, the orchestra. Even though they cut out I Am A Courtier Grave and Serious - which is not only my favorite song of the opera but what I consider Arthur Sullivan's most fascinating little composition PERIOD - these performances at The Proms are always top notch. Of that there is no possible doubt whatever!

[@MrRuplenas]

It is so sad that Sullivan, who viewed these operettas as beneath him, is today remembered only for them. His oratorios, cantatas, his one symphony, his single grand opera, are today forgotten, while the sparkling, ebullient melodies he produced for his collaborations with Gilbert continue to delight audiences a hundred years later. A particular delight of this production is to able to hear Sullivan's brilliance in orchestration. Bravo Sir Arthur! Bravo Sir William!

[@garethjones2596]

Sir Arthur yes, but there is no Sir William; Gilbert was never honored with a knighthood. Perhaps someone recognized that the Mikado whose morals are particularly correct is a parody of Queen Victoria; Nanki Poo of her hedonistic son Edward VII, and Katisha is Alexandra of Denmark.

[@ianbond3885]

But Gilbert was knighted Gareth, on 15th July 1907

[@focuselp]

Bravo Sir

[@ianbond3885]

I think to say that Sullivan is only remembered today for his comic operas with W S Gilbert is a little misleading. Yes, for many years after WWII the only pieces that were really played were the Overtures Di Ballo and In Memoriam. But this year sees the 40th Anniversary of the Sir Arthur Sullivan Society - an organisation that has worked tirelessly to raise the composer's profile. The result in recent years has not only been an increase in professional G & S productions (including professional performances of UTOPIA LIMITED and THE GRAND DUKE and a subsequent rise in the number of amateur productions of those two works), but there has also been an increase in performances of Sullivan's oratorios and cantatas. This is not to mention of course the number of professional recordings sponsored either in whole or in part by the Society. Since 1999 we have had professional recordings of, THE ROSE OF PERSIA, THE MARTYR OF ANTIOCH, THE PRODIGAL SON, THE BOER WAR TE DEUM, THE CONTRABANDISTA, THE FORRESTERS, the complete incidental music to THE TEMPEST and MACBETH, the ballets L'ILE ENCHANTEE and VICTORIA AND MERRIE ENGLAND, the Grand Romantic Opera IVANHOE, the Romantic Musical Drama THE BEAUTY STONE, the cantatas THE GOLDEN LEGEND, KENILWORTH, ON SHORE AND SEA, a disc of chamber music, and already this year a two-disc set of Drawing Room Ballads including a complete performance of the song cycle THE WINDOW. Just this April the oratorio THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD has been recorded with the BBC Singers and the BBC Concert Orchestra, and a new recording of HADDON HALL is in the planning stage. The Society has also been key in the first professional recording of Gilbert and Cellier's THE MOUNTEBANKS due for release before Christmas 2017. If you want to hear Sullivan's music, you just need to look for these recordings - some are on Hyperion, some on Marco Polo, some on Chandos, and some on Dutton Epoch. All can be highly recommended.

[@Tocsin-Bang]

Sir William's knighthood came 25 years after that of Sir Arthur's.

[@phtevlin]

My favorite G & S opera. Saw it live in Seattle years back. Excellent!!

[@petercrosland5502]

Hopelessly underestimated. Sullivan is brilliant on the small scale, some of his part songs are brilliant, Brahms would have killed for melodic talent like this.

[@rst7243]

I love Gilbert and Sullivan, but comparing Sullivan to Brahms is like comparing chocolate and cheese.

[@petercrosland5502]

@@rst7243 No I stand by it - name Brahms hits you whistle - bet you stop at the Hungarian dances.

[@RobinHillyard]

Cast: Casilda - Mary Hegarty Giuseppe - Jason Howard Gianetta - Rosemany Joshua Don Alhambra - Donald Maxwell Marco - Jamie MacDougall Duchess - Felicity Palmer Luiz - Timothy Robinson Tessa - Pamela Helen Stephen Duke - Richard Suart Inez - Penelope Walker BBC Singers -- Chorus Master - James Morgan BBC Concert Orchestra -- Conducter - Barry Wordsworth

[@virginiasteffens4908]

I love listening to all these Gilbert and Sullivan's operas because they are so entertaining! I have all fourteen on CDs but I love watching them on U tube! The English do such a job with Gilbert and Sullivan operas and can't stop watching them!

[@williamyoung6601]

Played the part of Louize in local production as a baritone singing a tenor part.

[@thedoeguy]

This opera is just amazing: melody just drips from every minute. And this from a period when G & S were barely speaking to one another. Incredible.

[@sharonreichter2537]

Wonderful.

[@chriscorbin6980]

My favorite g&s. Singers wonderful.

[@EVITANDY]

I had the pleasure of doing the Gondoliers with Richard Suart for D'Oyly Carte in 1991

[@aurigaastronomy-sciencemad5779]

I saw the D'Oyly Carte do Gondoliers in Leeds in the 1970's with the 'classic' modern era line up, John Reed as the Duke (same as the recording) he was brilliant...4 encores including one in a bathtub!

[@karldelavigne8134]

@@aurigaastronomy-sciencemad5779 Where was the bathtub? 🙃

[@aurigaastronomy-sciencemad5779]

@@karldelavigne8134 He was wheeled onto the stage sitting in it!

[@bosiewilder4945]

Felicity Palmer - what a treasure!

[@steffeng40]

Yes, it would be lovely, if someone could produce the 1987 Last Night of the Proms, in which she also shimmers.

[@pamelamarsen1235]

steffeng40 to get

[@steffeng40]

Dear Pamela Marsen, I think you left an unfinished comment...

[@mehitabel1290]

Yes. And her Big Number is taken at a brutally fast pace... cf Some of the others, which are so slow as to lose the melodic line..

[@tomdissonance]

hear hear

[@slksfca]

I love this, despite the occasional glitches. Thanks so much!

[@johnlangley4978]

slksfca khggff

[@Tenortalker]

What a beautifully sung performance. Despite the occasional cuts - ' Oh rapture' duo Casilda /Luiz for example.

[@EVITANDY]

Shame they cut the overture out - it's one of his best, I feel

[@coloraturaElise]

"Second-rate composers knighted"--LOVED it! Btw, is there some kind of time limit on Proms concerts, that they had to cut this work so much and take tempi that were on, the whole, much too fast?

[@germanquintero10121946]

EL CIMA DE LA MUSICA LO ESTABLECE LA EMOCION QUE SENTIMOS Y ESTE ES UNA BELLA MUESTRA

[@jimmanson5490]

+GERMAN QUINTERO Sorry for leaving it so long to approve your comment. I've only just noticed it was waiting to be approved. I don't understand why it needed it.

[@Timur18056]

Gershwin prom

[@naveedrafiq7923]

BBC1 Continuity On Thursday 7th August 1997.

[@howardrhodes4578]

If you enjoyed this look for the simply brilliant Australian opera full performance. It is on video

[@WorldlifeUtube]

The Australian version with sub-titles is for me the best current production currently available. Professionally filmed and brilliant choroegraphy with very talented soloist and chorus. Sadly let down by poor sound recording. Perhaps we will have a re-recordng from Sydney Harbour (Ideal for gondolas!). The outstanding sound of the Sydney Harbour open air productions is amazing especially dealing with wind and background noise

[@keithrainey7288]

Gilbert WAS knighted but not by Queen Victoria. He was knighted by King Edward VII.

[@DAMORBEL]

The divine Rosemany Joshua!

[@LeeJCander]

1:01:08 I'm learning this song now!

[@gabykogut6462]

jim -- this is so great!!! i'm going to watch the iolanthe one. are there any other g&s proms you can upload for us? pleeeease? :-) thanks!

[@mehitabel1290]

I don't have it, but they did a wonderful Yeomen in 2012.

[@Sheilamaizi]

Fabulous singing. Great performance. Too bad they couldn't put on a regular show. Love it. The only thing is I can never understand the words!!!!! I need a libretto!!!!

[@JackSarfatti]

+Sheila meri I could understand the words on this video.

[@pangaeuspress]

+Sheila meri Just google it! Project Gutenberg has the plays. And the Bab Ballads! Nothing easier.

[@Sheilamaizi]

Thanks for the information!!!! If I didn't thank you yet....

[@nicolacollins1858]

I had a Libretto once...but I swapped it for a Vespa....it was faster.

[@Sheilamaizi]

What is Vespa?

[@tomdissonance]

"al-arse!" ~ this female chorus

[@gabykogut6462]

i thought that was strange too! especially since gilbert wants to play on alas/a lass

[@pops1507]

Baritone = Virginia Hickory-Cured. :-)

[@foveauxbear]

Why is this in mono?

[@johnboy8846]

No "I am a courtier grave and serious"

[@mehitabel1290]

? Really?

[@anniespencer7879]

They cut it in the Ausralian opera version too. Thank you to the generous people who share these videos.

[@mehitabel1290]

Had any of the soloists seen the score before? Doesn't look, or sound, like it..

[@mehitabel1290]

Sorry, not sure what you mean............. Press 2...?