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The Worlds of Gilbert and Sullivan

Did you know that Gilbert and Sullivan were both famous people before they even met each other? Well, we are about to enter a topsy-turvy world. 

Once upon a time . . .   But let’s start at the very beginning (and be careful to watch out for all those links on the way . . .

In fact in 1836.

England's King is William IV. His niece, Victoria, a single young lady aged 17 is about to become Queen next year. She will reign for 63 years, the longest of any British monarch, and build up the largest empire ever known. The nation's favourite living composer is Michael Balfe. Its Poet Laureate Robert Southey is about to be succeeded by another Lakeland poet, William Wordsworth. The realm has just lost its favourite author, Sir Walter Scott. The country's greatest living author is Charles Dickens. And the world's favourite living story tellers are Hans Christian Anderson and the Brothers Grimm . . .

At this time three boys were born who were destined to significantly alter the whole world of musical entertainment. 

They were William Schwenk Gilbert, who didn’t like his second name; Arthur Seymour Sullivan, who didn’t like his initials; and Richard D’Oyly Carte, who took life as it came along.
William, the eldest, nicknamed Bab, was a brilliant scholar with a remarkable memory. He was from a wealthy but unhappy home, and was kidnapped (and returned for a small sum!) by Italian brigands when he was two! His father was a naval surgeon who inherited a fortune and retired  early to write novels.
Arthur was born to poor London parents – his Irish father was a bandmaster and his Italian/Jewish mother (with Irish ancestry) an organ-grinder’s assistant. They were a very happy family and  life was  full of music.
Richard, the youngest of our three heroes, was noted for his diplomatic skills, and hence known as Oily Cart! He was born into a musical family- his father was a very famous musician, and he was no mean musician himself. 

Now these three remarkable boys . . .

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