Gilbert and Sullivan Overview

The dramatic duo of Victorian London, playwright Sir William Schwenck Gilbert and composer Sir Arthur Sullivan, turned a theatrical corner with the creation of their wildly successful comic operas. For more than 20 years, the pair created a host of now-classic... [more]

The dramatic duo of Victorian London, playwright Sir William Schwenck Gilbert and composer Sir Arthur Sullivan, turned a theatrical corner with the creation of their wildly successful comic operas. For more than 20 years, the pair created a host of now-classic light operas, such as "HMS Pinafore" (1878), "The Pirates of Penzance" (1880), and "The Mikado" (1885). These masterpieces of comic opera sparkle with sublime wit, and Gilbert and Sullivan's incomparable, instantly recognizable tunes showcase the best of English humor -- highly satiric, dry, and teetering on the absurd. These works of whimsy represent a high point in musical collaboration, skewering the conventions of Victorian life while bequeathing new standards to the genre. The clever libretto, gorgeous compositions, and slightly daft good humor of "Pinafore" won over London audiences; it played to packed houses for two years, sparking a Gilbert and Sullivan craze that has yet to abate. More than a century later, Gilbert and Sullivan's musical magic continues to spellbind a loyal following. With opera companies, societies, and performance groups devoted solely to reviving the duo's works, the lyrical beauty and bonhomie of Gilbert and Sullivan's charmed collaboration seem destined to enchant audiences for years to come. [show less]