The Ultimate Gilbert & Sullivan Collection

Arthur Sullivan (Artist), Isidore Godfrey (Artist), Royston Nash (Artist), New Symphony Orchestra of London (Artist), Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (Artist), Colin Wright (Artist), Donald Adams (Artist), George Cook (Artist), Gillian Knight (Artist), Jean Hindmarsh (Artist), Jeffrey Skitch (Artist), John Ayldon (Artist), John Reed (Artist), Joyce Wright (Artist), Kenneth Sandford (Artist), Lyndsie Holland (Artist), Owen Brannigan (Artist), Pauline Wales (Artist), Peggy Ann Jones (Artist), Thomas Round (Artist), Valerie Masterson (Artist), D'Oyly Carte Opera Company (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 9, 1998)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B000007OU0
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #38,447 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not Exactly "The Ultimate" Collection..., December 22, 2004

By	A. Fark - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It seems that a collection of Gilbert & Sullivan music that has the name "The Ultimate Collection" in its title would boast a wide range of music, but I found the selection disappointing. Half of the tracks are songs from The Mikado, and the other half is divided between five... yes, FIVE other operettas. This means that the representation from each operetta is awfully scant. I would have liked to see less Mikado and more of everything else, and perhaps some highlights from the more obscure operettas (Princess Ida and The Sorcerer, namely).

In addition, while most of the music is very well performed, some of the vocalists either go a bit overboard or, at the very opposite end, seem to lack expression. For example, this Nanki-Poo (in The Mikado) seems to be overly occupied with vibrato. Katisha's voice is annoying, and The Mikado's low voice often seems to lack feeling and humor. The other idiosyncracies, like the very frightening evil laughing during "A More Humane Mikado" and hissing during "Three Little Maids" really bug me.

Then again, I'm new to Gilbert and Sullivan, and was introduced to the music through the Topsy Turvy soundtrack, which has a noticeably less operatic style, and hardly includes "stage noise"... so perhaps all this is the norm. Do listen to the tracks for yourself, though, before you purchase the CD. Personally, I find that the Topsy Turvy soundtrack, while considerably less ecompassing, is much lighthearted and easier listening.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Music - Questionable Selection, February 5, 2002

By	Julianne Warner Mcgarry "Julianne McGarry" (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It's an ongoing challenge to find a recording of Gilbert and Sullivan that combines premium musicality and great theatrical performance. This recording is a true gem on both fronts. My only complaint is that for a "Best of" collection, this compilation is Mikado-heavy and scarcely touches on highlights from other masterpieces, particularly The Pirates of Penzance. This would be my favorite G&S CD of all time, of only it included tracks like "When the Foeman Bares his Steel," "Poor Wand'ring One," and "Dry the Glist'ning Tear," but then again, I guess there's no real consensus as to which are Gilbert and Sullivan's best works, and there are too many to fit on one CD.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well worth the price, April 12, 2006

By	Ranger243 (East Coast USA) - See all my reviews

I love this CD. No, despite its name it is not the "ultimate" collection, as scarcely could be expected from a single CD. It is heavy on Mikado, as others have stated. It leaves out things I would have included and includes things I would have left out. But the performances are wonderful, traditional and all you expect from G&S. Considering the low price, it is well worth including in your G&S collection ... as PART of your collection. After the disappointment of the godawful Opera World video series (Don't buy it!) this CD is a joy and a relief.