A most ingenious paradox : the art of Gilbert and Sullivan / Gayden Wren.
| Author/creator | Wren, Gayden, 1961- |
| Format | Book |
| Publication Info | New York : Oxford University Press, 2001. |
| Description | x, 396 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm |
| Subjects |
| Contents | Gilbert before Sullivan -- Sullivan before Gilbert -- Thespis -- Trial by Jury -- The Sorcerer -- H. M. S. Pinafore -- The Pirates of Penzance -- Patience -- Iolanthe -- Princess Ida -- The Mikado -- Ruddigore -- The Yeomen of the Guard -- The Gondoliers -- Utopia, Limited -- The Grand Duke -- Gilbert after Sullivan, Sullivan after Gilbert -- Legacy -- Appendix A: The story of the Savoy operas ; Appendix B: Revisions to Ruddigore. |
| Abstract | Written more than a century ago and initially regarded even by their creators as nothing more than light entertainment, the fourteen operas of Gilbert & Sullivan emerged over the course of the twentieth century as the world's most popular body of musical-theater works, ranking second only to Shakespeare in the history of English-language theater. Despite this resounding popularity and proven longevity, most books written about the duo have focused on the authors rather than the works. With this detailed examination of all fourteen operas, the author fills this void. His thesis finds the key to the operas' longevity, not in the clever lyrics, witty dialogue, or catchy music, but in the central themes underlying the characters and stories themselves. Like Shakespeare's comedies, the author shows, the operas of Gilbert & Sullivan endure because of their timeless themes, which speak to audiences as powerfully now as they did the first time they were performed. |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (pages 349-375) and index. |
| LCCN | 2001021713 |
| ISBN | 0195145143 (alk. paper) |
Availability
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Music | Music Stacks | ML410.S95 W76 2001 | ✔ Available | Place Hold |