Operas of Gilbert and Sullivan [BOX SET] [EXTRA TRACKS]

D'Oyly Carte Opera Company (Artist), Arthur Sullivan (Composer), W.S. Gilbert (Composer), Charles Mackerras (Conductor), Stanford Robinson (Conductor), George Weldon (Conductor), Isidore Godfrey (Conductor), BBC Theatre Orchestra (Orchestra), D'Oyly Carte Opera Orchestra (Orchestra), Sadler's Wells Opera Orchestra (Orchestra), City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Deidree Thurlow (Performer), Alan Styler (Performer), Geoffrey Sanders (Performer), Enid Walsh (Performer), Ann Drummond-Grant (Performer), Darrell Fancourt (Performer), Donald Harris (Performer), Ella Halman (Performer), Fisher Morgan (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Deidree Thurlow, Alan Styler, Geoffrey Sanders, Enid Walsh, Ann Drummond-Grant, et al.
• Orchestra: BBC Theatre Orchestra, D'Oyly Carte Opera Orchestra, Sadler's Wells Opera Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Charles Mackerras, Stanford Robinson, George Weldon, Isidore Godfrey
• Composer: Arthur Sullivan, W.S. Gilbert
• Audio CD (April 20, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 10
• Format: Box set, Extra tracks
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Avid (City Hall)
• ASIN: B0001E5U8C
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #76,326 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not the best sung but among the best in characterization, July 8, 2005

By	F. Behrens "Frank Behrens" (Keene, NH USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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, the Avid people unavoidably had to place on the same disc Act I of one opera after Act II of the one before. There is also orchestral bonus material towards the end including orchestral selections from "Pinafore" and "Yeomen of the Guard," Sullivan's salute to the dance "Overture Di Ballo," and the entire score of the G&S-based ballet "Pineapple Poll."


Green is good and even better are the bottomless basso of Richard Watson, the most famous Mikado of them all Darrell Fancourt, and the sympathetic contralto of Ella Halman. Only tenor Leonard Osborne does not come over very well on recordings, although he was very good on stage. No true "Savoyard" will want to be without this collection.


Those who are perfectly happy with less will want "Gilbert & Sullivan: Highlights and Overtures" (AMSC 800), a double-CD set in which there are 27 selections from the complete recordings and the 9 overtures, plus "Overture Di Ballo." A great starter kit to introduce newcomers to the magic of the G&S team.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best; done by the original company!, January 7, 2009

By	H. W. Dixon "Cranky One" (Pensacola, Fl.) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Absolutely the best versions of Gilbert & Sullivan, because it is by the original company, D'Orly Carte. And the tempo is a bit slower on the ones I have listened to,(compared to later versions) which is great, because the lyrics are easier to understand. Well worth the price!