The Cambridge Companion to Gilbert and Sullivan

by David Eden (Editor), Meinhard Saremba (Editor)

Memorable melodies and fanciful worlds the comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan remain as popular today as when they were first performed. This Companion provides a timely guide to the history and development of the collaboration between the two men, including a fresh examination of the many myths and half-truths surrounding their relationship. Written by an international team of specialists, the volume features a personal account from film director Mike Leigh on his connection with the Savoy Operas and the creation of his film Topsy-Turvy. Starting with the early history of the operatic stage in Britain, the Companion places the operas in their theatrical and musical context, investigating the amateur performing tradition, providing new perspectives on the famous patter songs and analysing their dramatic and operatic potential. Perfect for enthusiasts, performers and students of Gilbert and Sullivan's enduring work, the book examines their legacy and looks forward to the future.

Genres: Music

292 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent essay collection examining Gilbert and Sullivan and their work from a variety of angles. Needless to say, a familiarity with the work is useful to an understanding of some of the more technical chapters, and some parts will be much more intelligible to seasoned Savoyards, but even relative beginners will find much of interest. i got a lot out of it despite my working knowledge of only six of the operas; i'll doubtless be returning to the book when i'm more familiar with the other seven (extant) ones. Copious notes and an enormous "Further reading" section add to its usefulness as a resource.

Essay topics range from musicological analysis, cultural background and the cultural status of the works today, Gilbert and fables, textual reconstructions, foreign performances (European and American) and the influence of G&S on Broadway.

My personal favourite chapters were Laura Kasson Fiss' enlightening essay on the patter song, Ian Bradley's exploration of the amateur scene, and particularly Mike Leigh's "Topsy-Turvy - a personal journey", which begins as a bravura defence of G&S against the kind of facile received opinion exemplified by Sir Jonathan Miller ("UKIP set to music", a comment which has always seemed odd, given - as Leigh points out - how good Miller's ENO Mikado was), and ends up as a scene-by-scene exegesis of his excellent 1999 film.

It's worth noting a couple of details have been superseded by events, most notably the Buxton festival moving to Harrogate, but these obviously could not be foreseen at the time of writing and don't detract from the work.