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The Worlds of Gilbert and Sullivan

Shortly after the tragic death of Arthur's brother and the subsequent premature halting of Trial by Jury, Sullivan was totally taken by surprise at the tremendous success of his song The Lost Chord. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Music by Cambridge University, and appointed a professor of the Royal Academy of Music. The world was expecting great things from England's new premier composer. At about this time the resourceful Richard D'Oyly Carte enticed Arthur and William to write another operetta for his newly formed Comedy Opera Company.

The Sorcerer was premiered 17 November 1877 in the Opera Comique, London. It was their first full-length, opera and it ran for 175 performances. This period piece about love crossing all boundaries (through the magic of a love potion!) has universal appeal to all generations. The dialogue is written in blank verse. It was the first G&S opera seen at the Opera Comique, and the first in which George Grossmith, Rutland Barrington and Richard Temple appeared. It was revised for a revival at the Savoy Theatre in 1884 - the version usually seen today.

We have included a couple of the songs from this show: The Curate's Song, and the very well known (stand by for surprises . . .!) Sorcerer's Song - 

So what does the Curate's Song have to tell us . . .?

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