CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

Operas of Gilbert and Sullivan

Search: Then Frederic
from: Avid (City Hall)

Release Date April 20, 2004
Between 1949 and 1951, the D'Oyly Carte Company was very busy recording nine of the Gilbert & Sullivan works onto mono LPs for the Decca label (or the London, as it was known over here), with comic lead Martyn Green in all but "Trial By Jury." After he left the company, Green was supplanted by Peter Pratt, who recorded the comic lead roles in "The Sorcerer" and "Princess Ida." All of these have waited a long time to appear on CDs and several companies have taken advantage of the copyright lapse to issue them at very high prices and at least one at very budget ones.


But now I find that all of the 1949-1951 sets are available on the Avid Entertainment label as a boxed set of 10 discs (AMSC 780-789). To keep things compact, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

Gilbert & Sullivan: Pirates Of Penzance

Search: Then Frederic
from: Sony

Release Date October 19, 1993
The chorus is fresh, as noted. I don't know how much Malcolm Rivers reminds me of Donald Adams, but he sings well enough.

Marilyn Hill Smith makes a pretty good Mabel, though the high E-flat at the end of "Poor wand'ring one" is really pushing her range. She takes about every high note possible, even hitting the E-flat again at the end. She does well in the bit of dialogue included ("Sargent, approach")

Perhaps the biggest distinction of this set is the added materials of the finale. Originally, a form of Captain Corcoran's "Hardly ever" line was applied to the pirates in the Act II finale ("What all?").

The Sargent's accent is an acquired taste, which you may or may not acquire. I thought it sounded a bit ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

Gilbert & Sullivan: The Pirates Of Penzance

Search: Then Frederic
from: Decca

Release Date May 11, 1993
While the music that is on the CD is good, a several numbers are missing! It's not the full operetta

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

Best of Gilbert & Sullivan, Vol. 2

Search: Then Frederic
from: Memoir Classics

Release Date November 01, 1998
I purchased this CD with some fear that the sound quality might reflect its vintage 1920's and 30's origin. Well, this recording might be the very best transfer of 78s that I have ever heard! I really enjoy the "early" D'Oyly Carters because I think their combination of acting and singing is unsurpassed. This is certainly so for tenor Derek Oldham, contralto Bertha Lewis, and, of course, bass-baritone Darrell Fancourt. But EVERYONE really excels in their parts and it's great to hear the likes of Nellie Briercliffe, Muriel Dickson and Winifred Lawson (et al) in clear voice, with really no surface noise at all. The performances sound new and fresh.

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

Sullivan: Pirates of Penzance

Search: Then Frederic
from: Polygram Records

Release Date July 21, 1989
For newbies: *Pirates* is indeed one of the most pleasurable of the G&S shows. While not the most satirical, not the most ambitious, it is perhaps the most perfectly realized. Particular treat: wonderful music and lyrics for the chorus.

For newbies: the D-Carte Company produced the premieres of the G&S operettas with Gilbert and Sullivan. Until some point well into the 20th c (1980's?) the company performed and recorded the repertory. Thus, there is a rare historical cachet to anything D-Carte.

The Good on this recording: a sly, sonorous, and expressive Police Sgt; sensitive duet singing by Frederick and Mabel; anchoring tempi; a strong chorus.

The Bad on this recording: J. Reed as Major-General is really hard for me to listen ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

Sullivan: Pirates of Penzance; H. M. S. Pinafore

Search: Then Frederic
from: Romophone

Release Date July 10, 1996
I bought this CD from a friend, thinking I just wanted to be reminded of the music and the story for Pirates -- I didn't really need an exceptionally good recording. Unfortunately I was disappointed. I wondered why it fit on one CD instead of two -- they sung really really fast as if to make it fit. The sergeant sounded very weak -- almost chanting instead of singing. The recording quality was not good (which shouldn't have surprised me, considering when it was recorded.)

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

Gilbert & Sullivan: Trial By Jury / The Pirates of Penzance

Search: Then Frederic
from: Pearl

Release Date December 05, 2000
I bought this CD from a friend, thinking I just wanted to be reminded of the music and the story for Pirates -- I didn't really need an exceptionally good recording. Unfortunately I was disappointed. I wondered why it fit on one CD instead of two -- they sung really really fast as if to make it fit. The sergeant sounded very weak -- almost chanting instead of singing. The recording quality was not good (which shouldn't have surprised me, considering when it was recorded.)

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

Gilbert & Sullivan: The Pirates of Penzance

Search: Then Frederic
from: Decca

Release Date May 13, 2003
I agree with the other 5 star reviewers. This is a fine production of this wonderful comic/parody operetta. Staid? Well, that's part of the fun. It's ridiculousness combined with its cleverness is what makes it great! It is simply wonderful that this performance is available on CD.

A small flaw - in days of LPs, a much higher level of distortion was acceptable. This CD preserves that distortion, so don't be surprised. But the quality of the performance overcomes any defects. The Mona Lisa was not thrown away because the paint became cracked.

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

The Pirates of Penzance

Search: Then Frederic
from: Elektra / Wea

Release Date February 24, 1998
This is a wonderful DVD. I got this as a stop gap until the VHS came out on DVD, but now I may not. Yes, the technical aspects are not the best. But it is the filming of an actual performance at the Delacorte Theater. It's not as slick as the production with Angela Landsbury, but Patricia Routledge, later to be Hetty Wainthrop and Hyacinth Bucket, more than holds her own, and the production has those small details that usually are left out of a much-edited and rehearsed film. You really get the feeling you are there watching a live performance. If you are a G&S fan, this is a DVD you must have. It is a gem of a performance, with wonderful actors/singers.