Customer Reviews

Sullivan: Macbeth / King Arthur / Merry Wifes Of Windsor

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

 

 

It would be very interesting to compare Sullivan's music for The Merry Wives with that of Verdi, Niccolai, and Vaughan Williams. Sullivan does not come out last by any means. His King Arthur selections are wonderful, showing the Celtic strain in his musical DNA; and his Macbeth is as good as Verdi's--but there does not seem much one can do with translating that brooding play into music. A very good choice even or especially for those who prefer not to hear Gilbert's lyrics for the millionth time.

This disc is one of five Andrew Penn recorded for Naxos/Marco Polo, though not perhaps the most satisfactory. I would give that title to Victoria and Merrie England, Penny's excellent 77-minute traversal of Sullivan's 1897 one act ballet. This disc contains music for two Shakespeare plays, Macbeth and The Merry Wives of Windsor, plus for King Arthur, a blank-verse drama by Joseph Comyns Carr.

Macbeth contains, in my opinion, the best music in this program. The Overture, recorded a number of times over the years, demonstrates Sullivan's talent for dramatic settings. If it is just a tad too merry it is, nevertheless, very excellent. The choruses are inventive and pleasantly executed by the RTE Chamber Choir.

King Arthur was, on the whole, a missed opportunity. Arthur Sullivan had the knack of creating instantly memorable tunes. The Chorus of the Lake Spirits, however, borders on being annoying -- too memorable. The May Song doesn't strike my fancy either.

The Merry Wives of Windsor is better. The fairy music, if not quite Purcell, is nevertheless very good indeed. The last dance is a merry way to finish the disc.

The performances are very good if not the best imaginable. I find Margaret MacDonald's mezzo a bit plummy (rather like Frances McChafferty), but still fine. Penny coaxes some nice music-making from everyone. His account of the Macbeth Overture, while not the best, stands up well next to the recordings by Nash (on Decca) and Mackerras (on BBC).

On the whole, this disc, while pleasant, is probably going to be satisfactory only to the extreme Sullivan fanatic (which I am - almost). The timing is also a bit on the short side (50'41"), making this a nonessential purchase for the general collector.