Gilbert & Sullivan; The Pirates of Penzance / Mackerras, Welsh National Opera

Arthur Sullivan (Artist), Sir Charles Mackerras (Artist), Orchestra & Chorus of the Welsh National Opera (Artist), Welsh National Opera (Artist), John Mark Ainsley (Artist), Richard Van Allan (Artist), Gillian Knight (Artist), Rebecca Evans (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 26, 1993)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Telarc
• ASIN: B000003CZS
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #43,904 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Pour, Oh Pour, The Pirate Sherry

2. When Fred'ric Was A Little Lad

3. Oh, Better Far To Live And Die

4. You Have Deceived Me

5. Climbing Over Rocky Mountain

6. Stop, Ladies, Pray!

7. Oh! Is There Not One Maiden Breast

8. Poor Wand'ring One

9. What Ought We To Do? Gentle Sisters, Say!

10. How Beautifully Blue The Sky

11. Stay, We Must Not Lose Our Senses

12. Hold, Monsters!

13. I Am The Very Pattern Of A Modern Major-General

14. Oh! Men Of Dark And Dismal Fate

15. Oh! Dry The Glist'ning Tear

16. Now, Frederic, Let Your Escort Lion-Hearted

17. When The Foeman Bares His Steel

18. Now For The Pirates' Lair!

19. When You Had Left Our Pirate Fold

20. Away, Away, My Heart's On Fire!

See all 28 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect - the right continuation of the series, February 1, 2001

By 

Yi-Peng (Singapore) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gilbert & Sullivan; The Pirates of Penzance / Mackerras, Welsh National Opera (Audio CD)

The success of the Mackerras/Telarc MIKADO prompted Mackerras to choose PIRATES as his second entry. And he gives it a fresh, imaginative performance with his first-class team of starry singers and dedicated, alert forces. Richard Suart's Major-General shows him easily surpassing John Reed. He finds more subtle nuances in this part, and he gives a delectable performance of his pater song that rarely sounds rushed. No doubt D'Oyly Carte experience has geared him up for this. Donald Adams, despite a hiatus after recording the part of the Pirate King with D'Oyly Carte, still shows himself in glorious voice, and continually keeping touch, even despite his age. The romantic edge of the opera is perfectly brought out by John-Mark Ainsley's heady-toned and lyrical Frederic and Rebecca Evans's creamy Mabel, who inject a certain magic into the Act Two duet, Ah leave me not to pine alone. And what should also be considered special are Gillian Knight's bright-toned and shining Ruth and Richard Van Allan's bumptuous Sergeant of Police. Run for your money, Owen Brannigan! Van Allan has managed to fit the character of the Sergeant a little more with his voice-shaping. And he certainly sounds a little bit more flattered and comical than you, incereasing the freshness in his portrayal until it surpasses yours. The chorus is superbly disciplined, the orchestral playing alert and imaginative, and Mackerras gives his own inimitable touch to the overall result. Telarc's recording is perfectly faultless, with nothing to gripe about, and it caps a performance that sparkles more than D'Oyly Carte's 1968 Decca recording.

P.S. Some may gripe about the lack of dialogue. This recording only contains the music, except for the Overture, which could not be fitted onto a single disc.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Performance for Half the Price, June 19, 2000

By 

S. Kirk - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gilbert & Sullivan; The Pirates of Penzance / Mackerras, Welsh National Opera (Audio CD)

While the D'Oyle Carte Production of "Pirates" (on London Records) may be the best of the bunch, the performers on this particular CD still have much to be proud of. There may not be any standout performances (like that of Owen Brannigan on the album mentioned above) but all of the singers here do a fine job. This is a fun, energetic production of one of G&S's finest operas and, best of all, it fits all the music, save the overture, onto a single CD. Recommended for both the curious and completists alike.

2.0 out of 5 stars Surprised to be disappointed, September 5, 2011

By 

pr (Ohio, USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Gilbert & Sullivan; The Pirates of Penzance / Mackerras, Welsh National Opera (Audio CD)

I like everything Charles Mackerras conducted -- his performances are clear, spirited and distinctive. Yet, I don't enjoy this recording. In my opinion it is hurried and characterless. Spirited on the surface, but lacking the natural good-natured quality of older, classic recordings.