Customer Reviews

Topsy-Turvy - The Music of Gilbert & Sullivan: From the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Anything about Gilbert & Sullivan is okay with me, but I never thought I would live to see another major motion picture about them after the one with Maurice Evans and Robert Morley. And not only about them but on the much more specialized subject of how The Mikado came to be written! A New York Times article calls this new film, <Topsy-Turvy>, "grandly entertaining" and I can transfer that description to the inevitable soundtrack CD that Sony has just issued for reviewers on SK 61834. Although excellently sung and superbly recorded, it is something of a mixed bag. It contains in no particular order, chronological or otherwise, 8 tracks of Mikado music, 2 from Princess Ida (which preceded The Mikado), 2 from The Sorcerer (which was touched up and revived while The Mikado was being written), the Overture to The Yeomen of the Guard (which came two works after The Mikado and is not even heard in the film--it was added because the producer of the CD likes it), The Lost Chord (which along with Onward, Christian Soldiers is all that Sullivan is famous for outside of the Savoy series), and some music composed for the film. For the same price as this CD, you can get the entire score of The Mikado on Telarc label and the two overtures on Naxos along with all the other Savoy overtures. But as a momento of the film and as an introduction to G&S, this CD will do very nicely indeed.

I was compelled to get this after seeing the overlong, flawed, but nonetheless all-around amazing 'Topsy Turvy'. (Seriously - almost every supporting actor in the film deserved an Oscar, and Jim Broadbent was robbed; his Gilbert is magnificent and real.)
Inspired then to hear a true G&S performance, I bought several Carte recordings. What broke my heart is that the genuine Savoy performances are not as good as those of the 'Topsy' actors! Contrary to a review here, the articulation is just dandy. And the tenor in 'Wand'ring Minstrel' alone is far, far superior to the thin, reedy, annoying versions on the several concert cds I've heard. As is the riveting soprano on the beautiful 'The Sun Whose Rays...' of 'Topsy'; again, the actual Savoy recordings are merely shrill in comparison.
I remove one star only because of the necessarily abbreviated performances here.

I very much enjoyed the movie and the CD, and one of the things that I found most pleasing is that the casting was vocally and physically appropriate to the type of talent that would have existed in the company at that time. The singers are excellent, (for the most part) but not overly operatic. All voices are appropriate and believable for the period. In their time, G&S works were not considered grand opera, rather light entertainment, and the singing style and prowess of their actors reflected that. Gilbert wanted singers who could act, not opera singers. Topsy Turvy is right on the mark in every respect.

This is a fantastic cd, one that I have listened to many many times without growing tired of it. The particularly nice thing about this cd for lovers of the movie is that you get to hear the entire performance for many songs which are necessarily cut short in the film, most enjoyably "A Wandring Minstrel I". As has been noted in other reviews, the vocal performances are not what you will typically find in other G & S recordings: they are far less burdened with mannered belle canto nonsense, to their immense benefit. And I must disagree with one reviewer who disparaged the staging as portrayed in the film. My wife and I saw a touring production of the Mikado which used the costumes and set from the movie, and it was fantastic. Even better, the performers seemed to take some cues from the film actors too, singing and performing in a way that was much more accessible and not a bit less pleasing.

This CD is well put together, and lots of fun to listen too. The songs are mostly kept together by which ever opra they were in. The singers are very capable and a joy to listen too. This is a must CD for any Gillbert & Sullivan fan.

Also, there is an insert that has the lyrics printed, as well as some information about the duo and their shows.

This is Gilbert and Sullivan like you will never hear again! These performances are so fresh and alive with comedy flourish that my formerly "purist" ears reveled in delight at this magnificeant rendition of these great operettas.It is wonderful to hear excerpts from PRINCESS IDA,IOLANTHE and SORCERER (as well as THE MIKADO) when so many recordings already exist of the other G&S chestnuts,PINAFORE and PIRATES OF PENZANCE.
The actual cd itself fills the speakers and is a true listener's dream.A great soundtrack of a great film.Wonderfully recorded by SONY.

You are back in the Savoy Theater in Victorian England, watching a Gilbert and Sullivan production of the Mikado, or Yeoman of the Guard, or the Sorcerer, or Princess Ida. The qualiity of the music is superb, the voices are wonderful and I only wish I could have videos of all the G&S productions to watch along with the music.

Buy the DVD of Topsy-Turvy if you don't already own it. It's magnificent. See my other review.

It's brilliant, really! I am a self-confessed Gilbert and Sullivan fanatic, and so the release of this soundtrack to accompany a truly delightful movie provided me with an "Oh, joy! Oh, rapture!" moment ... many of them, actually! To hear some of my favorite tunes from some of my favorite G & S operetti performed so well makes my heart "sing-o" - and me, too!

I have always liked Gilbert and Sullivan -- my baby brother and I used to sing the duet "Oh False One" from Pirates since before he could pronounce his "F"s correctly. I've been lucky enough to listen to reams of performances live, and numerous recordings. Of all I have heard, this one is the best. The clarity of the voices (especially the soprano) is astonising. Rarely have I heard a more musically perfect performance. Better yet, the lyrics are wholly comprehensible -- even in the patter song included. The only trouble with it is that the order of songs is non-sensical unless you've seen either the movie or the operas involved. Still, if you are only going to have one G&S CD, this would be the one I'd suggest.

I thoroughly enjoyed the movie "Topsy Turvy" and was enthralled that while listening to the CD all the moments I enjoyed in the movie were brought back. Having discovered the wondrous Gilbert and Sullivan 20 years ago and having seen the "Mikado" seven times during that time I can that I have not heard a better group of singers and orchestra than is on this CD. The musicianship was vibrant, singing crisp and clear and sonically, the CD was well recorded and sounded great. I highly recommend this.