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The Worlds of Gilbert and Sullivan

The Contrabandista, subtitled The Law of the Ladrones¹, by Burnand & Sullivan  , was first performed at the St George's Opera House on 18 December 1867. 

After the tremendous success of Cox and Box, at the Royal Gallery of Illustrations earlier in the year, the manager, Thomas German Reed commissioned a second operetta from Arthur Sullivan and the librettist F C (Sir Francis) Burnand. The whole thing was written and composed in a effortless sixteen days!

The plot of the opera is set in Spain, with an amusing tribe of smugglers. They had lost their Chieftain, who was husband to a bloodthirsty Inez de Roxas, who is now their leader. This loss puts everyone in a difficult situation. The Ladrones' law is that the vacant office of Chieftain must be filled by the first stranger to enter their domain, and marry the former Chieftain's widow.

Enter the happily married (and somewhat absent minded professor type) Peter Adolphus Griggs, complete with scientific and photographic apparatus. They have also captured a beautiful bride, and her bridegroom is determined to achieve her release. Imagine the fun to be had with this state of affairs!

We have chosen four² of the numbers to include here: The Soprano solo - He will Return; the Tenor solo - Wake Gentle maiden; a humorous 'Baritone' ditty - From Rock to Rock and a martial Contralto solo - Let Others Seek. Select one and have a go . . .

What about singing the Soprano solo - He will Return . . .?

1.    Footnote: Ladrones is a Spanish word for robbers. Contrabandista (also Spanish) means smugglers. Return to Story.

2.    Footnote: See Rees and Spencer in the MusicSmiles bibliography for further details. Return to Story.

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