Gilbert & Sullivan

William S. Gilbert & Arthur Sullivan

William Schwenck Gilbert (1836–1911) and the composer Arthur Seymour Sullivan (1842–1900) collaborated on fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896, of which H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado are among the best known. Gilbert, who wrote the words, created fanciful "topsy-turvy" worlds for these operas where each absurdity is taken to its logical conclusion - fairies rub elbows with British lords, flirting is a capital offence, gondoliers ascend to the monarchy, and pirates turn out to be noblemen who have gone wrong. Sullivan composed the music, contributing memorable melodies that could convey both humour and pathos. Their operas have enjoyed broad and enduring international success and are still performed frequently throughout the English-speaking world. Gilbert & Sullivan introduced innovations in content and form that directly influenced the development of musical theatre throughout the 20th century. The operas have also influenced political discourse, literature, film and television and have been widely parodied and pastiched by humorists. Producer Richard D'Oyly Carte brought Gilbert & Sullivan together and nurtured their collaboration. He built the Savoy Theatre in 1881 to present their joint works (which came to be known as the Savoy Operas) and founded the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, which performed and promoted Gilbert & Sullivan's works for over a century.

The Fourteen Operas of
Gilbert & Sullivan

"Thespis" or "The Gods Grown Old" (1871)

This work was produced for the Christmas season at the Gaiety Theatre in London and ran from 26 December to 8 March. The libretto survives but most of the music is lost. There have been several attempts to reconstruct it.

The story follows an acting troupe - headed by Thespis, the legendary Greek father of the drama - who temporarily trade places with the gods on Mount Olympus, who have grown elderly and are being ignored.
The actors turn out to be comically inept rulers. Having seen the ensuing mayhem from down below, the angry gods return, sending the actors back to Earth and to a theatrical fate worse than death....

Gods

Jupiter, Aged Deity
Apollo, Aged Deity
Mars, Aged Deity
Diana, Aged Deity
Mercury

Thespians

Thespis, Manager of a Travelling Theatrical Co.
Sillimon, His Stage Manager
Timidon
Tipseion
Preposteros
Stupidas
Sparkeion
Nicemis
Pretteia
Daphne
Cymon

With a Chorus of aged deities and thespians

"Trial By Jury" (1875)

In a breach of promise case Edwin, the Defendant, is sued by Angelina, the Plaintiff. Both Judge and Jury are smitten by charms of the pretty Plaintiff (not to mention the Bridesmaids) and the Defendant is hard pressed to explain that indeed he loved this girl once, but fell in love with another. His suggestion that he marry each woman one after the other causes a Nice Dilemma, but the Judge's idea that his violent tendencies be tested with drink goes down even less well. Eventually the exasperated Judge has another idea...

The Learned Judge (Comic Baritone)

The Plaintiff (Soprano)
The Defendant (Tenor)
Counsel for the Plaintiff (Baritone)
Usher (Bass Baritone)
Foreman of the Jury (Bass)
Associate (Silent Role)
Chorus of Gentlemen of the Jury, Barristers, Attorneys, Bridesmaids and Members of the Public

Trial By Jury opened at the Royalty Theatre in London on 25th March 1875, and continued to be played until the Royalty closed on 12th June for the summer. Trial By Jury was again on the bill when the theatre reopened on 11th October 1875 and played until the close of the season on 18th December 1875, after a run of 131 performances.

"The Sorcerer" (1877)

In the well-ordered village of Ploverleigh, Alexis, son of the local Baronet, is newly wed to Aline, daughter of a Lady. Alexis is obsessed with idea of love levelling all ranks and social distinctions. To promote his beliefs, he invites the proprietor of J. W. Wells & Co., Family Sorcerers, to brew a love potion. This causes everyone in the village to fall in love with the first person they see and results in the pairing of comically mismatched couples. In the end, Wells must take drastic action to break the spell.

Sir Marmaduke Pointdextre, an Elderly Baronet (Bass Baritone)
Alexis, of the Grenadier Guards (Tenor)
Dr. Daly, Vicar of Ploverleigh (Baritone)
Notary (Bass)
John Wellington Wells, of J. W. Wells & Co., Family Sorcerers (Comic Baritone)
Lady Sangazure, a Lady of Ancient Lineage (Contralto)
Aline, her Daughter, betrothed to Alexis (Soprano)
Mrs. Partlet, a Pew Opener (Contralto)
Constance, her Daughter (Mezzo Soprano)
Hercules (Speaking Role)
Chorus of villagers

.The Sorcerer opened at the Opéra Comique in London on 17th November 1877 where it ran for 175 performances.

"H.M.S. Pinafore" or "The Lass That Loved a Sailor" (1878)

The story takes place aboard the British ship H.M.S. Pinafore. The captain's daughter, Josephine, is in love with a lower-class sailor, Ralph Rackstraw although her father intends her to marry Sir Joseph Porter, the First Lord of the Admiralty. She abides by her father's wishes at first, but Sir Joseph's advocacy of the equality of humankind encourages Ralph and Josephine to overturn conventional social order. They declare their love for each other and eventually plan to elope. The captain discovers this plan and stops the elopement, but a surprise disclosure changes everything.

The Rt. Hon. Sir Joseph Porter, KCB, First Lord of the Admiralty (Comic Baritone)
Captain Corcoran, Commander of H.M.S. Pinafore (Baritone)
Ralph Rackstraw, Able Seaman (Tenor)
Dick Deadeye, Able Seaman (Bass Baritone)
Bill Bobstay, Boatswain's Mate (Baritone)
Bob Becket, Carpenter's Mate (Bass)
Josephine, The Captain's Daughter (Soprano)
Cousin Hebe, Sir Joseph's First Cousin (Mezzo Soprano)
Mrs. Cripps (Little Buttercup), A Portsmouth Bumboat Woman (Contralto)
Chorus of Sailors, Marines, First Lord's Sisters, His Cousins and His Aunts

H.M.S. Pinafore opened at the Opéra Comique in London on 28th May 1878 where it ran for 571 performances.

"The Pirates of Penzance" or "The Slave of Duty" (1879)

Frederic, having completed his 21st year, is released from his apprenticeship to a band of pirates. He meets Mabel, the daughter of Major-General Stanley, and the two young people fall instantly in love. Frederic finds out, however, that he was born on 29th February, and so he only has a birthday each leap year. His apprenticeship indentures state that he remains apprenticed to the pirates until his 21st birthday, and so he must serve for another 63 years. Bound by his own sense of duty, Frederic not only has to rejoin the Pirates but also must tell them the Major-General escaped their clutches by lying. They plan to seize him at his castle home. The Police are there and find a ruse with which to foil them. Then a final revelation puts everything right.

Major-General Stanley (Comic Baritone)
The Pirate King (Bass Baritone)
Samuel, his Lieutenant (Baritone)
Frederic, the Pirate Apprentice (Tenor)
Sergeant of Police (Bass)
Mabel, General Stanley's Daughter (Soprano)
Edith, General Stanley's Daughter (Mezzo Soprano)
Kate, General Stanley's Daughter (Mezzo Soprano)
Isabel, General Stanley's Daughter (Speaking Role)
Ruth, a Piratical Maid of all work (Contralto)
Chorus of Pirates, Police and General Stanley's Daughters

The Pirates of Penzance opened at the Opéra Comique in London on 3rd April 1880 where it ran for 363 performances.

"Patience" or "Bunthorne’s Bride" (1881)

In a world gone mad with languid ladies and affected gentlemen, twenty lovesick maidens forsake their handsome soldier suitors to pursue poet, aesthete, and fake Reginald Bunthorne. But he loves the village milkmaid, Patience, who doesn't like poetry or understand love. When Patience finally learns what love is, it's Reginald’s rival she falls for: Archibald Grosvenor. All the maidens (except one) fall for him too. Then fashions change, the soldiers cease their brief flirtation with aestheticism and the maidens return to them. Just one or two romantic loose ends remain...

Colonel Calverley, an Officer of the Dragoon Guards (Bass Baritone)
Major Murgatroyd, an Officer of the Dragoon Guards (Baritone)
Lieut. The Duke of Dunstable, an Officer of the Dragoon Guards (Tenor)
Reginald Bunthorne, a Fleshly Poet (Comic Baritone)
Archibald Grosvenor, an Idyllic Poet (Baritone)
Mr. Bunthorne's Solicitor (Silent Role)
The Lady Angela, a Rapturous Maiden (Mezzo Soprano)
The Lady Saphir, a Rapturous Maiden (Mezzo Soprano)
The Lady Ella, a Rapturous Maiden (Soprano)
The Lady Jane, a Rapturous Maiden (Contralto)
Patience, a Dairy Maid (Soprano)
Chorus of Officers of the Dragoon Guards and Rapturous Maidens

Patience opened at the Opéra Comique in London on 23rd April 1881 and transferred to the newly built Savoy Theatre in London on 10th October 1881 running for a total of 578 performances.

"Iolanthe" or "The Peer and the Peri" (1882)

Iolanthe is a fairy who dared to marry a mortal man; banished from the dominion of the magical creatures, Iolanthe was forced to leave her husband and raised her son, Strephon, on her own. Years later, Strephon has fallen in love with Phyllis, who is a ward of court. All the Peers of the Realm are in love with her too. As Strephon is just a lowly shepherd, the Lord Chancellor opposes their marriage. The Fairies come to Strephon's aid, but this leads to even further complications that are only resolved once Fairies and Peers find a solution together.

The Lord Chancellor (Comic Baritone)
George, Earl of Mountararat (Baritone)
Thomas, Earl Tolloller (Tenor)
Private Willis, of the Grenadier Guards (Bass)
Strephon, an Arcadian Shepherd (Baritone)
Queen of the Fairies (Contralto)
Iolanthe, a Fairy, Strephon's mother (Mezzo Soprano)
Celia, a Fairy (Soprano)
Leila, a Fairy (Mezzo Soprano)
Fleta, a Fairy (Speaking Role/Chorus)
Phyllis, an Arcadian Shepherdess and Ward in Chancery (Soprano)
Chorus of Dukes, Marquises, Earls, Viscounts, Barons and Fairies

Iolanthe opened at the Savoy Theatre in London on 25th November 1882 where it ran for 398 performances.

"Princess Ida" or "Castle Adamant" (1884)

Prince Hilarion had been married in infancy to Princess Ida, daughter of King Gama. The Princess, however, has set up a college for women from which all men are barred. Hilarion's father, King Hildebrand, takes Gama and his sons hostage. Hilarion and his friends infiltrate the castle pretending to be women. The Princess has them arrested. Hildebrand and his men invade her Castle but he proposes to settle the matter through a fight between Gama's sons and Hilarion and his friends. Eventually, gentler impulses bring a resolution...

King Hildebrand (Bass Baritone)
Hilarion, King Hildebrand's Son (Tenor)
Cyril, Hilarion's Friend (Tenor)
Florian, Hilarion's Friend (Baritone)
King Gama (Comic Baritone)
Arac, King Gama's Son (Bass Baritone)
Guron, King Gama's Son (Bass Baritone)
Scynthius, King Gama's Son (Bass)
Princess Ida, King Gama's Daughter (Soprano)
Lady Blanche, Professor of Abstract Science (Contralto)
Lady Psyche, Professor of Humanities (Soprano)
Melissa, Lady Blanche's Daughter (Mezzo Soprano)
Sacharissa, Girl Graduate (Soprano)
Chloe, Girl Graduate (Speaking Role/Chorus)
Ada, Girl Graduate (Speaking Role/Chorus)
Chorus of Soldiers, Courtiers, Girl Graduates and Daughters of the Plough

Princess Ida opened at the Savoy Theatre in London on 5th January 1884 where it ran for 246 performances. It is the only three act Gilbert and Sullivan Opera and the only one with dialogue in blank verse.

"The Mikado" or "The Town of Titipu" (1885)

The son of the Mikado of Japan has fled his father's court after being ordered to marry the elderly Katisha on pain of death. Disguised as a wandering minstrel and calling himself Nanki-Poo, he reaches the town of Titipu and falls in love with Yum-Yum, just out of school. She however is the ward of Ko-Ko, the Lord High Executioner. Ko-Ko, under sentence of death for flirting, was raised to his high rank so any further executions could be avoided. Nanki-Poo can't marry Yum-Yum, because Ko-Ko is going to marry her himself.
Because of the lack of executions in Titipu, the Mikado threatens to reduce it from City to Village status. Ko-Ko persuades the suicidal Nanki-Poo to be beheaded instead: he can marry Yum-Yum for the final month of his life. But Katisha is on the warpath.
Then Nanki-Poo learns that if he is beheaded his wife Yum-Yum has to be buried alive. Their marriage is off. Ko-Ko triumphs. But the Mikado is approaching the city - with Katisha. Ko-Ko can’t face executing Nanki-Poo, who is again suicidal. He lets him marry Yum-Yum and a false death certificate is prepared. The Mikado learns that the “executed” man is his son. Boiling oil or melted lead is in prospect for the perpetrators. But if Ko-Ko can persuade Katisha to marry him, her claim on Nanki-Poo will lapse and all might be resolved...

The Mikado of Japan (Bass Baritone)
Nanki-Poo, His Son (Tenor)
Ko-Ko, The Lord High Executioner of Titipu (Comic Baritone)
Pooh-Bah, Lord High Everything Else (Baritone)
Pish-Tush, A Noble Lord (Baritone)
Go-To, A Noble Lord (Bass)
Yum-Yum, A Ward of Ko-Ko,(Soprano)
Pitti-Sing, A Ward of Ko-Ko (Mezzo Soprano)
Peep-Bo, A Ward of Ko-Ko (Mezzo Soprano)
Katisha, An Elderly lady, (Contralto)
Chorus of Nobles, Guards, Coolies and School-Girls

The Mikado opened at the Savoy Theatre in London on 14th March 1885 where it ran for 672 performances.

"Ruddigore" or "The Witch’s Curse" (1887)

The Baronets of Ruddigore are cursed. Anyone who succeeds to the title has to commit a crime every day, or perish in inconceivable agony. Robin Oakapple, a young farmer loves Rose Maybud, but both are too shy to tell the other. But Robin is really Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd, the rightful Baronet of Ruddigore, in disguise. His younger brother, Despard, believing Ruthven to be dead, has assumed the title. Robin's foster brother, Richard, seeking Rose for himself, tells Despard of Robin's deception, and Robin is forced to accept his true position, losing Rose to Richard in the process. Now the Baronet of Ruddigore, Robin is confronted by the ghosts of his ancestors who step from their picture frames in the gallery of Ruddigore Castle to confront him for failing to conscientiously commit his daily crime. Robin eventually finds a way of satisfying his ancestors' demands whilst continuing to live a blameless life.

Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd Disguised as Robin Oakapple, a Young Farmer (Baritone)
Richard Dauntless His Foster-Brother – A Man-o'-war's-man (Tenor)
Sir Despard Murgatroyd of Ruddigore, A Wicked Baronet (Bass Baritone)
Old Adam Goodheart Robin's Faithful Servant (Bass)
Sir Rupert Murgatroyd The First Baronet (Speaking/Chorus)
Sir Jasper Murgatroyd The Third Baronet (Speaking/Chorus)
Sir Lionel Murgatroyd The Sixth Baronet (Speaking/Chorus)
Sir Conrad Murgatroyd The Twelfth Baronet (Speaking/Chorus)
Sir Desmond Murgatroyd The Sixteenth Baronet (Speaking/Chorus)
Sir Gilbert Murgatroyd The Eighteenth Baronet (Speaking/Chorus)
Sir Mervyn Murgatroyd The Twentieth Baronet (Speaking/Chorus)
Sir Roderic Murgatroyd The Twenty-first Baronet (Bass Baritone)
Rose Maybud A Village Maiden (Soprano)
Mad Margaret (Mezzo Soprano)
Dame Hannah Rose's Aunt (Contralto)
Zorah Professional Bridesmaid (Soprano)
Ruth Professional Bridesmaid (Speaking/Chorus)
Chorus of Officers, Ancestors, Professional Bridesmaids and Villagers

Ruddigore opened at the Savoy Theatre in London on 21st January 1887 where it ran for 288 performances.

"The Yeomen of the Guard" or "The Merryman and His Maid" (1888)

The setting is the Tower of London in Tudor times. Colonel Fairfax, a gentleman, soldier and scientist, is to be beheaded in an hour on a false charge of sorcery. To avoid leaving his estate to his accuser, a cousin, and with the help of the Lieutenant of the Tower, Fairfax secretly marries Elsie Maynard, a strolling singer who works with Jack Point, a jester. The bride agrees to be blindfolded during the ceremony and expects to be a well-paid widow in an hour. With the help of the Meryll family, Fairfax escapes, throwing the Tower into confusion and the astonished Elsie and Jack (who loves her) into despair. But Fairfax, disguised as Leonard Meryll, woos Elsie and she falls in love with him, leaving Jack broken-hearted. Discovery of the Meryll family's plot brings about a couple of expedient marriages.

Sir Richard Cholmondeley, Lieutenant of the Tower (Baritone)
Colonel Fairfax, under sentence of death (Tenor)
Sergeant Meryll of the Yeomen of the Guard (Bass Baritone)
Leonard Meryll, his son (Tenor)
Jack Point, a strolling jester (Baritone)
Wilfred Shadbolt, Head Jailer and Assistant Tormentor (Bass Baritone)
The Headsman (Silent)
First Yeoman (Tenor)
Second Yeoman (Baritone)
First Citizen (Speaking/Chorus)
Second Citizen (Speaking/Chorus)
Elsie Maynard, a strolling singer (Soprano)
Phœbe Meryll, Sergeant Meryll's daughter (Mezzo Soprano)
Dame Carruthers, Housekeeper to the Tower (Contralto)
Kate, her niece (Soprano)
Chorus of Yeomen Warders, Gentlemen and Citizens

The Yeomen of the Guard opened at the Savoy Theatre in London on 3rd October 1888 where it ran for 423 performances.

"The Gondoliers" or "The King of Barataria" (1889)

Casilda, married in infancy to the heir to the throne of Barataria, arrives in Venice to join her husband. But he cannot be identified, since he was entrusted to the care of a drunken gondolier who mixed up the prince with his own son. The King of Barataria has just been killed so the two young gondoliers must now jointly rule the kingdom until the nurse of the prince can be brought in to say which of them is the rightful king. When the young queen arrives in Barataria to claim her husband, she finds that the two gondoliers are already married to local girls in Venice. Casilda herself is already in love with another man. It is left to Inez, the nursemaid, to resolve all...

The Duke of Plaza-Toro, A Grandee of Spain (Baritone)
Luiz, his Attendant (Baritone)
Don Alhambra del Bolero, the Grand Inquisitor (Bass Baritone)
Marco Palmieri, Venetian Gondolier (Tenor)
Giuseppe Palmieri, Venetian Gondolier (Baritone)
Antonio, Venetian Gondolier (Baritone)
Francesco, Venetian Gondolier (Tenor)
Giorgio, Venetian Gondolier (Bass)
Annibale, Venetian Gondolier (Speaking Role/Chorus)
The Duchess of Plaza-Toro (Contralto)
Casilda, her Daughter (Soprano)
Gianetta, Contadina (Soprano)
Tessa, Contadina (Mezzo Soprano)
Fiametta, Contadina (Soprano)
Vittoria, Contadina (Mezzo Soprano)
Giulia, Contadina (Mezzo Soprano)
Inez, the King's Foster Mother (Contralto)
Chorus of Gondoliers, Men at Arms, Heralds, Pages and Contadine

The Gondoliers opened at the Savoy Theatre in London 7th December 1889 where it ran for 554 performances, and was the last of the Gilbert & Sullivan operas that would achieve wide popularity.

"Utopia Limited" or "The Flowers of Progress" (1893)

The South Sea island of Utopia is ruled by a King who is, in theory, an absolute monarch but is controlled by two Wise Men who have the power to denounce him to the Public Exploder. The King has introduced English culture to the island and is in love with Lady Sophy, the English governess of his two younger daughters. She rejects him because of the shady reputation portrayed in a newspaper which the Wise Men force him to write.
The princess Zara, the King's eldest daughter, returns from college in England. She has brought with her six shining representatives of English culture (the Flowers of Progress) in order to reform Utopian institutions. Every Utopian citizen turns himself into a Company Limited. Realising this puts the King beyond their power, the Wise Men rouse the Utopian citizenry to revolt. Zara then realizes she has left something out of her perfect emulation of English society...
Utopians

King Paramount the First, King of Utopia (Baritone
Phantis, Judge of the Utopian Supreme Court (Comic Baritone)
Scaphio, Judge of the Utopian Supreme Court (Comic Baritone)
Tarara, The Public Exploder (Comic Baritone)
Calynx, The Utopian Vice-Chamberlain (Speaking Role)
The Princess Zara, Eldest Daughter of King Paramount (Soprano)
The Princess Nekaya, Her Younger Sister (Soprano)
The Princess Kalyba, Her Younger Sister (Mezzo Soprano)
The Lady Sophy, Their English Gouvernante (Contralto)
Salata, Utopian Maiden (Speaking)
Melene, Utopian Maiden (Speaking)
Phylla, Utopian Maiden (Soprano)
Chorus of Maidens, Guards and Life Guards

Imported Flowers of Progress

Lord Dramaleigh, a British Lord Chamberlain (Baritone)
Captain Fitzbattleaxe, First Life Guards (Tenor)
Captain Sir Edward Corcoran, KCB, of the Royal Navy (Bass)
Mr. Goldbury, a Company Promoter, later Comptroller of the Utopian Household (Baritone)
Sir Bailey Barre, Q.C., MP (Tenor)
Mr. Blushington, of the County Council (Baritone)

Utopia Limited opened at the Savoy Theatre in London on 7th October 1893 where it ran for 245 performances.

"The Grand Duke" or "The Statutory Duel" (1896)

In The Grand Duke, Gilbert and Sullivan come full circle, back to the theme of their first collaboration, Thespis: a troupe of actors taking political power.
The plot hinges on the misinterpretation of a 100 year old law regarding statutory duels, which are decided by drawing cards. By this means the leading man of the troupe, Ludwig, changes places with the hypochondriac, miserly Grand Duke Rudolph, who thus hopes to avoid the rebellion that the troupe are planning against him. Ludwig uses his new power to extend the law but his and his predecessor's entanglements mean he becomes engaged to four women in succession. Then the troupe's Lawyer reveals there has been a little mistake...

Rudolph, Grand Duke of Pfennig Halbpfennig (Comic Baritone)
Ernest Dummkopf, a Theatrical Manager (Tenor)
Ludwig, his Leading Comedian (Baritone)
Dr. Tannhäuser, a Notary (Baritone)
The Prince of Monte Carlo (Baritone)
Viscount Mentone (Speaking Role)
Ben Hashbaz, a Costumier (Any Male Voice)
Herald (Baritone)
The Princess of Monte Carlo, Betrothed to Rudolph (Soprano)
The Baroness Von Krakenfeldt, Betrothed to Rudolph (Contralto)
Julia Jellicoe, an English Comédienne (Soprano)
Lisa, a Soubrette (Mezzo Soprano)
Olga A Member of Ernest Dummkopf’s Company (Any Female Voice)
Gretchen, A Member of Ernest Dummkopf’s Company (Any Female Voice)
Bertha, A Member of Ernest Dummkopf’s Company (Any Female Voice)
Elsa, A Member of Ernest Dummkopf’s Company (Any Female Voice)
Martha, A Member of Ernest Dummkopf’s Company (Any Female Voice)
Chorus of Chamberlains, Nobles, Actors and Actresses

The Grand Duke, the fourteenth and final Gilbert & Sullivan opera, opened at the Savoy Theatre in London on 7th March 1896 where it ran for only 123 performances.