| Contents |
1961: jazzed-up Gilbert and syncopated Sullivan? -- How they began -- 1855-60: boots are thrown at Gilbert -- 1861-6: a certain wild magic -- Private lives in the 1860's. (I) Bab and Kitten -- (2) O fair dove! O fond dove! -- 1869: Mr. Gilbert meets Mr. Sullivan -- 1871: Thespis: a revolution misfires -- 1875: Trial by jury, Richard D'Oyly Carte backs a winner -- 1877: The sorcerer -- 1878: H.M.S. Pinafore, the ship that sailed to victory -- 1879: World-wide success -- 1880: The Pirates of Penzance -- 1881: Patience, a caricature of the follies of the age -- 1882: Iolanthe, a close-up of Gilbert -- 1883: Sir Arthur Sullivan, a discontented composer -- 1884: Princess Ida, the first quarrel -- 1885: The Mikado -- 1886-7: Ruddigore and The Golden Legend -- 1888: The Yeomen of the Guard -- 1889: The Cipher Quarrel and The Gondoliers -- 1890-1: The Carpet Quarrel -- 1892-3: A Gilbertian utopia -- 1894-1900: Fin de siecle -- Twentieth century: the show goes on -- A diary of modern times. |
| Abstract |
This is the story of a unique partnership and of the world-famous operas which it produced. In compiling it, the author (who wrote the highly successful radio series on Gilbert and Sullivan), has had access to a wealth of new material concerning the work and private lives of Gilbert and Sullivan, and also of the equally famous impresario, D'Oyly Carte. Even after Mr Baily's MS had been set up in type more source material came to light, when Miss Bridget D'Oyly Carte discovered among the belongings of her famous grandfather certain documents containing valuable new information about the partnership. "I read," says Mr Baily, "hundreds of old letters which had not seen the light of day for seventy years and which modify one's previous estimate of the part played by D'Oyly Carte in the Savoy partnership." This material, plus a great deal of other new matter, including facsimile reproductions from Gilbert's own plot-books, is here made public for the first time. The diaries of both Gilbert and Sullivan are quoted and the facts about Sullivan's love affair with Rachel Scott Russell are revealed through extracts from her letters. This is the most comprehensive history of these famous men and their operas ever attempted. Commencing in 1836 with the birth of Gilbert it spans a century and more of entertainment to the present time. The writing, casting, staging, rehearsals, and first nights are dilated upon. Reminiscences, anecdotes, press notices, and private correspondence about the libretti and music all jostle one another to complete one of the liveliest pictures of the Gilbert and Sullivan phenomenon ever presented. In this revised edition there is a completely new chapter discussing the future of the D'Oyly Carte operas with copyrights soon to run out. The whole text is thoroughly revised and there are a number of new illustrations. It is a 'must' for all Savoyards and lovers of the light opera theatre. |
