Customer Reviews

Here's A Howdy Do: A Gilbert & Sullivan Festival

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This one is a natural for me. The King's Singers are my favorite group, and Gilbert & Sullivan are my favorite shows. The King's Singers are the perfect group for G&S music, too, with their unique blend of serious musical study and just plain fun. Their medly and patter trio are two wonderfully crafted examples of G&S music, and the rest of the songs are very skillfully presented. I only wish this wonderful group would do another Gilbert & Sullivan recording.

The King's Singers have released a Gilbert and Sullivan compilation. This is good news to some fans, but it is (partly) not good news to traditionalists. Most of the numbers are done a cappella but in "Ghost's High Noon," "Ah, Leave Me Not," "With Catlike Tread" and "Pirate King" they have taken a considerable amount of liberty with the original, especially in "With Catlike Tread" (from Pirates of Penzance). Traditionalists should keep off that track because the accompaniment doesn't follow the original version. The medleys are very innovative. The recording dating from 1993 is splendid.

I was so disappointed in this cd, as I am a true Gilbert and Sullivan fan, and had high expectations of this
compilation of songs that I have a fond familiarity with. A few of the cuts are pleasant enough, but more of
them are sung at a snail's pace with "embellishments" that make them at times almost unrecognizable. If you
enjoy traditional renditions of G&S tunes, you will want to skip this.

This delightful album is the kind of work which will make the listener search for MORE by the artists and the composers. If you are not a fan of The Kings Singers, you will become one. If you don't know much Gilbert & Sullivan, you will want to learn! Highest praise.

As a lover of both G&S and the King's Singers, I was positively tickled by this wonderful recording. The King's Singers have managed to breath new life into songs that have sunken into obscurity, or worse, cliche'. "Pirate King", "Tit Willow", and "Here's a How-dee-Doo" are especially delightful. The tonal range of this group never fails to amaze me. From the sweetness of David Hurley on top to the astounding Stephen Connelly thundering forth as the Mikado, they are a joy to listen to.

CLEVER ARRANGEMENTS-HUMOUR AND WIT-TUNEFUL MELODIES-AND SINGERS THAT FIT!!!!
When one hears the compositions of W.S.Gilbert(1836-1911)and Sir Arthur Sullivan(1842-1900) with it's clever and satirical humour, its hard to believe that their collaberation ended with an argument over a carpet which had been ordered for the Savoy Theatre, built specifically for the performance of their works. After that they each disappeared into obsecurity, but not before they had given us marvelously written music which combined Gilbert's plots full of savage attacks on pomp and sham that perfectly complimented the humour and beauty of Sullivan's music.

Every facet of G&S's music appears on this disc: the lyrical 'Brightly Dawns Our Wedding Day', the sentimental 'Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes', the patriotic 'A British Tar'(I loved that one!),the slapstick 'With Cat-like Tread', and my absolute favorite arrangement: the macabre and baroque 'The Ghost's High Noon'(they even worked in Saint Saens in this one). But the greatest and very skillfully sung: 'Patter-Matter', A G&S patter song medley around which the Singers twist their tongues with their usual expertise. (After all they are Brits and were raised on this genre).

Established in 1968 and originally affiliated with King's College,Cambridge, from whence they come, this sextet of Englishmen (D,Hurley & A.Hume -countertenors; B.Chilcott-tenor; B.Russell-baritone; S.Carrington-baritone; S.Connolly bass) combine musical excellence with a diverse repertoire, ranging from folk songs to madrigals to contemporary pop hits. The group's unusual appeal stems from its unique ability to communicate the sheer enjoyment of a vast and eclectic repertoire. The personnel of the group changes periodically, and I would like to say that this is one of the better groups; the earlier groups (this is 1993) had a weak voice every now and then.

This collection of G&S is a little disappointing, considering it's the King Singer's version, but still worth purchasing. I felt rather lethargic after listening to it, I kept feeling the need to speed things up a bit, a dreamy and soft version of what I feel should be a more lively and impelling musical experience. It didn't reach my soul or insist I sing along, it may be the recording process itself was part of the effect or they felt the need to make a less typical version.

A beautifully performed choral arrangement of G+S standards. Entertaining, if you are not looking for the original material. Very professional and attractive singing.

Gilbert and Sullivan are one of my favorite recent composing teams; the King's Singers are probably my favorite vocal ensemble. This CD is a great mix of classic Sullivan-sounding arrangements and fresh takes on his old tunes.

Once again we discover that amatures should not attempt to emulate what the classical artist "would" have wanted. This poor attempt at a "comical" view of the music of G&S only reiterates to this listener.....Don't Go There... I'm sorry I did and wish that the King's Singers......had never said..."Howdy Do", to me. Though I will keep searching for a true and respectful rendition of H.M.S. Fortunately, this version, makes a great coffee cup coaster......