Princess Ida (Act 1) (Less Overture) - D'Oyly Carte - Gilbert & Sullivan

This lyrical, three act operetta was first performed in 1884. It is positioned between 'Iolanthe' and 'The Mikado'. The libretto satirizes women's education which, back in Gilbert's day, was just coming into fashion. This is the D'Oyly Carte 1965 recording.
The Overture is omitted because of copyright restriction.
Link to Act 2 • Princess Ida (Act 2) -...
Link to Act 3 • Princess Ida (Act 3) -...
-CAST-
King Hildebrand ----------------------------Kenneth Sandford
Hilarion (His Son) --------------------------Philip Potter
Cyril ---------(Hilarion's Friends)---------David Palmer
Florian ------(-------------------------)--------Jeffrey Skitch
King Gama -----------------------------------John Reed
Arac -----------(His Sons)------------------Donald Adams
Guron ---------(-------------)------------------Anthony Raffell
Scynthius----(-------------)------------------George Cook
Princess Ida (Gama's Daughter)------Elizabeth Harwood
Lady Blanche -------------------------------Christene Palmer
(Professor of Abstract Science)
Lady Psyche --------------------------------Ann Hood
(Professor of Humanities)
Melissa ----------------------------------------Valerie Masterson
(Lady Blanche's Daughter)
Sacharissa (A Graduate)----------------Valerie Masterson
--D'Oyly Carte Opera Chorus--
--Royal Philharmonic Orchestra--
--Conductor: Sir Malcolm Sargent--
Recorded at Decca Studios, West Hampstead, May 1965
Information from album notes, and oakapplepress dot com

[@janethothersall8345]

Oh the memories of our Gilbert and Sullivan days at high school...every year we had the joy of singing our hearts out! Ida is my all time favourite...we also did the mikado, the pirates of Penzance, HMS pinafore,....total joy!!!

[@hilariontada5799]

My dear Mom brought me to see a LOOM -Light Opera of Manhattan- production of Princess Ida when I was a small boy. I can still remember it to this day...amazing. Tonight I'm sitting two rows behind James Levine conducting Wozzeck at The Met...Rock on!

[@UnclaimedFr8]

Thank you for visiting, and adding your personal vignettes to the posting, Hilarion! I'm glad you enjoyed this. And have obviously expanded upon that early experience. Best Regards, David

[@peterscrafton5592]

Sargent was a superlative choral conductor; and adding his talents to those of WSG and AS, as well as the impeccable diction and discipline of the D'Oyley Carte make these recordings, in my view, the best of their kind

[@karenbachner8800]

I think Princess Ida is considered one of their best by the critics (read that somewhere). How does one choose a favorite, they are all so wonderful!!!! Thanks for uploading all this happiness for all G&S lovers. i

[@Corinthian44]

Musically , Princess Ida is surely the best , chronologically , preceded by Iolanthe , and succeeded by , The Mikado, it represents G and S's finest period . One wonderful song followed by another , then another , I know they're all great , but this has to be the best !

[@ARCtheCartoonMaster]

Eh... personally, I found _The Sorcerer_ quite boring.

[@johnupfold945]

@@ARCtheCartoonMaster I consider The Sorcerer to be vert entertaining and some of the music excellent

[@Corinthian44]

The finale of Princess Ida, Act 1, is, in my opinion, the pinacle of all Gilbert and Sullivan operas.

[@wurlitzer895]

Thanks so much for uploading these G&S operettas. I appreciate that all music is subjective to the individual, but I think these gems are beautifully written with superb lyrics and music. Sullivan was the perfect partner for Gilbert. His melodies, harmonies and orchestrations are always tasteful and apt. A composer who was far more subtle than many people give him credit for being. Thanks Sir William and Sir Arthur. You have both enriched my life and given me tremendous pleasure. Peter

[@UnclaimedFr8]

You're very welcome, Wurlitzer! Your comments are a tribute to the legacy of this partnership. Thank you for visiting! Best Regards, David

[@richardbetton-foster3899]

Yes, far superior to Offenbach et al.

[@Corinthian44]

The finale to Act 1 is absolutely magnificent, and as good as anything Gilbert and Sullivan ever wrote! I continue to be amazed that Princess Ida isn't more popular ; in my opinion, it's the best G and S opera of them all !

[@UnclaimedFr8]

corinthian Thank you for visiting and commenting, Corinthian! Great music indeed. Maybe it's the somewhat dated subject matter that diminishes its popularity now. Best Regards, David

[@richarddavis7778]

I couldn't agree more. The problem seems to be that it had mixed reviews from the outset and still attracts scathing comments on the Internet, but I can't for the life of me understand why. I am a G & S enthusiast rather than a fanatic and am certainly no expert, but find a couple of the operas bordering on tedious, notably The Sorcerer. UnclaimedFr8 has suggested that the dated material may be the problem but nothing could be more dated than Patience and it remains popular with good reason. In fact probably only Trial by Jury and Iolanthe have any current resonance.I am not sure what I am allowed to write about other productions. However, the 'well known video' of Princess Ida which has been excoriated by at least one well known reviewer was, to my mind, utterly charming in every respect. So much so that I watched it five nights in succession on first viewing.Thanks for posting by the way, this is much better than the version I have on CD.

[@marinameilenstein]

I think so too. Every time I listen to it the richness of wonderful melodies and clever lyrics (If You Give Me Your Attention is probably my favourite G&S patter song) amazes me again.

[@PlanetBobstar]

In my opinion Princess Ida's biggest flaw is its ending. True, it's based on a poem with the same conclusion, but it's rather unsatisfying to see Ida just going along with the unfair decree of Hildebrand, who gets no comeuppance for imprisoning 4 people, threatening to execute them and vowing to destroy Ida's university if she disobey him. In addition to being crudely anti-feminist, it's just not a very gratifying resolution, especially after Act 2's exciting build-up to a great battle.

[@Corinthian44]

@@marinameilenstein Yes , I agree Marina , the King Gama song is my favourite ' patter ' song too , it's brilliant !

[@Corinthian44]

Princess Ida, surely the best Giilbert and Sullivan opera!

[@hellostarshine1989]

Oh my god I've been trying to figure out this tenor's name for YEARS! Thanks for posting!

[@jameshorn270]

For those who want to see Princess Ida, some scenes are recreated at the begiinning of Topsy Turvy, a movie about the creation of the Mikado. Be warned that the situation is that Princess Ida is that the show is near the end of its run in a terrible heat wave and, though the Savoy Theater was the most modern in the world (first all electric lighitng), air conditioning had not yet been invented, so the performers are sweating heavily. There are also scenes from the Sorceror (revived as a bridge to the next, as yet unwritten shoow) and the Mikado from first reading to first performance. It is a great movie and very much warts and all in its presentation. Though he was also famous for hymn tunes such as Onward Christian Soldiers, Sullivan was a gambler and womanizer and his need for cash kept driving him back to Gilbert and d'Oyly Carte despite the pressure on him to stop the trivial stuff an produce a symphony or grand opera. For parents, there is a short scene in a French brothel so you may want to pre-screen if you are sensitive to toplessness.

[@robinwilson1433]

Thank you for the background!

[@jameshorn270]

@@robinwilson1433 You might also be interested in something which might not be expected from the depiction of him as brusque and insensitive,, in 1914 he and his wife were hsosting a party on their estate and some young women were swimming in a lake on the property when they paniced and started screaming for help. The elderly Gilbert gallantlyh dove in, and failed to come up. This so stunned the girls they stopped strubbling and found they were in about four and a half feet of water. Gilbert had had a heart attack.

[@UnclaimedFr8]

Thanks for visiting and commenting, Emma! Glad you enjoyed this. Yes, Gorshin played King Gama in 1982, in a PBS series of G&S. Besides Riddler, he played in other TV series, including Star Trek's "Let that Be Your Last Battlefield" (1969). Best Regards, David

[@UnclaimedFr8]

Thank you for your kind words, Karen! I've learned and enjoyed so much during this project. Best Regards, David

[@lukegriffith2828]

O wondrous score!

[@UnclaimedFr8]

Well, you're very welcome, and thanks for stopping by and commenting! Best Regards, David

[@robinwilson1433]

This is my favourite G & S operetta ( I am now told that they were not operettas, and that we must refer to them as comic operas - ??), dating from the early 1960s, when it was put on by my school!

[@Corinthian44]

Don't believe all dopey school teachers tell you . Mine, 70 years ago was Mr Lord , at Drummond school , who knew his stuff , a pity you don't have the privilege of his teaching !

[@UnclaimedFr8]

Thanks for visiting and commenting, Corinthian44! I'm glad you enjoyed this--may the debate continue. Best Regards, David

[@richardbetton-foster3899]

The now absurdly dated satire in this opera is what renders it less popular than it should be. This is a shame because the music is of exceptionally good quality and Gilbert's wit is in top form. It's less flamboyant than many G&S operas, having, like Patience, a pastoral feel to it.

[@ARCtheCartoonMaster]

To be fair, _Patience_ is pretty dated as well, as the aesthetic movement is all but forgotten now. But I guess the general themes of pretentious, fame-seeking artists and horribly warped perceptions of love are more relatable to modern audiences than making fun of women's education. Though personally, I see _Princess Ida_ as more as making fun of women-only groups, and how pretentious they can be in thinking they're better than men.

[@UnclaimedFr8]

Hello racehorse87, and thanks for visiting. I don't have a good answer for that--sorry. Maybe it appears elsewhere in a compilation album which has copyright restrictions--don't know. Best Regards, David

[@jamiebenson3674]

I can't wait to see James Sweetman in this!

[@Jamessweetman13]

I can wait to see you.

[@Denusept]

What part do you think he will get?

[@jamiebenson3674]

Probably that Gama fellow. He is widely considered to be the funniest person in PB Theatricals!

[@emmadale-hench947]

my fave i have frank gorsin playing ida's dad on dvd he was the orginal riddler or joker

[@tonyhurst5615]

There is no overture as such, only a short prelude.If there was an overture, it would have been printed in the vocal score like all the others. Except Utopia Ltd, which also has no overture.

[@richardbetton-foster3899]

Why no Overture (or rather Prelude) which contains a wonderful rendering of Ida's hymn to Minerva?????

[@UnclaimedFr8]

Copyright claim--blocked full uoload.

[@richardbetton-foster3899]

@@UnclaimedFr8 This is a shame. I thought Sullivan's copyright expired many years ago. You have managed to include overtures in other G&S operas you have posted. While writing, I would like to say how delighted I am with your postings of all the Savoy operas, even the rarely performed ones. I have been starved of G&S for many years so I am having a chance now to work my way through each. Many many thanks for providing many hours of pleasure, especially during the current difficult times.

[@UnclaimedFr8]

@@richardbetton-foster3899 Thank you, Richard! As I recall, the claim was not based on the composition per se , but specifically related to the artist(s) involved in the performance of the overture. I must say, I'm grateful to have been able to upload so much of this marvelous music. And, to be clear, there's no monetization of this channel--I've purchased the albums myself. Best Regards, David

[@jamiebenson3674]

Does anyone know of any links to videos of Princess Ida fails?

[@operettas_are_lovely]

Great recording! Just curious -- how come there are copyright restrictions on the overture only?

[@ericaryon9932]

I used to have this album. I remember the cover. Did you frame it?

[@UnclaimedFr8]

No frame, Erica--just the album. I place framing of some sort with my computer program, to give more visual interest for the video. Thanks for visiting! Best Regards, David

[@ARCtheCartoonMaster]

Fun fact: if you say the title in a Southern US accent, it sounds like "Princess Atta" (a character from Pixar's _A Bug's Life_ ).

[@dabedwards]

Superb! Having grown up with the popular favourites, I have only just come across the rarer G&S, and have been astounded by their freshness and quality. Perhaps the problem with Ida is that the setting has little connection with reality, being a sort of "once-upon-a-time" fantasy land. So the satire is less acute, and the resolution of the plot (as in "Taming of the Shrew") is something of a problem for a modern audience. Regrettably Gilbert makes his parody of Tennyson's "The Princess" crudely anti-feminist to please his audience. The original was not. But what music! Pastiche and parody it may be, but those are pejorative words. Here the musical parody is often better than the original, and of the highest quality.

[@Squilurple]

A lot of G&S is a bit once upon a time-ish. But this would have to be the most fun to actually do IMO.

[@Corinthian44]

Tempo too slow , better played at 1.25 speed .

[@Corinthian44]

I've just played it through again , I should say , some of the numbers are better played at 1.25 speed ; not that anyone listens to me !

[@johnupfold945]

@@Corinthian44 Personally I cannot fault it

[@ARCtheCartoonMaster]

Well, that's Malcolm Sargent for you - he was a notoriously slow conductor, as can also be heard on his recordings of _Patience_ and _Ruddigore_ with the Glyndebourne Chorus and Pro Arte Orchestra.