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CDs in excellent condition and arrived promptly
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
This is regarded as the supreme Gilbert and Sullivan opera. No self-respecting G & S anorak could possibly be without it. Recorded in 1973, the D'Oyly Cart was possibly already past it's great days of the mid - sixties. The likes of Donald Adams, Thomas Round, Alan Styler and Philip Potter are not on this recording. But we still have John Reed and Kenneth Sandford from the old guard, and on the female side the three little maids of Valerie Masterson, Peggy Anne Jones and Pauline Wales are superb. My preferance is for the rarer 1958 version which I have on cassette .I'm not sure if it's available on DVD (or even if it's available at all.)It is a classic with Peter Pratt, Donald Adams, Thomas Round, Kenneth Sandford (again), Alan Styler, Jean Hindmarsh, Beryl Dixon and Ann Drummond-Grant. The whole thing is conducted by Isidore Godfrey in a snappier manner than the 1973 version (Royston Nash ).The later version seems to have a lusher sound quality to it, but for the "classic"D'Oyly Carte" feel I go for the 1958 version.As for other versions, well "the task of filling up the blanks I'd rather leave to you". The Mikado seems to be losing ground to Pinafore and Pirates in terms of performance, the Americans and Australians perhaps finding it difficult to grasp the subtle satire on English mores that Gilbert presents. I think that The Mikado is ripe for an innovative new production. Meanwhile enjoy the music (and the lyrics).Read full review
What's to say? The CD is of the 1970's version under Royston Nash - it's currently possible to hear the 1960's one that originally took 3 LPs (and had a 10" LP highlights disc) as well as the 1950's version. The D'Oyly Carte Co. had a monopoly of Gilbert and Sullivan performance and while this led to a great tradition of performances, it also led in someways to some irritating "business" - for instance, when the Mikado professes a desire to let the "punishment fit the crime" his laughter by the '70s was a forced cackle more like asphyxiation than hilarity. (On stage if not CD the practice of "encores!" of favourite numbers tended to disrupt performance; one wonders what Gilbert - notorious for suppressing unofficial "business" would have made of it). The lyrics have been corrected for modern sensibilities - the lady is painted with vigour and permanent walnut juice, but that amendation applies to all post WW2 recordings. I'd like CD's of the pre-war versions, but that is by the by. One serious omission is that of dialogue. The D'Oyly Cartes with dialogue have always been easier to follow unless one is a G&S buff, and it's a pity they left it off in '73. Overall an excellent performance, demoted to good by the omission of dialogue and the hamminess of the Emperors laughter.Read full review
An excellent recording of this classic. The performances are great and the audio quality is also very good. Highly recommended.
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