Prom 49 (19.8.12): Gilbert & Sullivan – The Yeomen of the Guard

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Sunday 19 August at 7.30 p.m.
Royal Albert Hall

Sullivan: The Yeomen of the Guard (85 mins)
semi-staged

Leigh Melrose baritone (Lt Sir Richard Cholmondeley)
Andrew Kennedy tenor (Colonel Fairfax)
Lisa Milne soprano (Elsie Maynard)
Victoria Simmonds mezzo-soprano (Phoebe Meryll)
Felicity Palmer mezzo-soprano (Dame Carruthers)
Mary Bevan soprano (Kate)
Mark Richardson bass-baritone (Sergeant Meryll)
Tom Randle tenor (Leonard Meryll)
Mark Stone baritone (Jack Point)
Toby Stafford-Allen baritone (Wilfred Shadbolt)
BBC Singers
BBC Concert Orchestra
Jane Glover conductor
Martin Duncan stage director

"Recent Proms seasons have seen a liberal sprinking of complete Gilbert & Sullivan operettas, under such distinguished conductors as Jane Glover and the late Charles Mackerras. With its historic London setting, the grandest, most emotionally engaging of the Savoy operas is a must for 2012."

[salymap]

I don't know whether to listen or not.

I go back to the wonderful season at the Savoy Theatre in 1951 when Malcolm Sargent, who lavished a lot of his time on G&S, conducted several of the operas with people like Martyn Green, Peter Pratt,etc.

It's a long time ago but I particularly remember 'I've got a little list' from the Mikado when Churchill was in the audience. I wish I could remember the words on that occasion.

A recent pressie rather disappointed me though. A set of DVDs of the complete works, ruined by Frankie Howerd of all people.

I see tonight's performance is on BBC2 on 25th August and will record it then probably.

What are your memories of G&S ?

[Northender]

Back in the mid-1960s I saw 'The Mikado', with John Reed, at the Manchester Opera House. I believe it was the last date of a long national tour by the D'Oyly Carte company. In the same week, I also saw 'Pinafore' and 'Trial By Jury'.
I'm guessing that the box set you mention is the 11-DVD George Walker set introduced by Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Not all classics by any means, but Keith Michell is pretty good in 'Pirates' and Joel Grey a surprisingly effective Jack Point. I personally found Frankie Howerd more than adequate in 'Pinafore'. By far the best televised G&S I've ever seen is Jonathan Miller's 1920s-set 'Mikado' with, among other surprise treats, Eric Idle and, again if memory serves, a young Lesley Garrett as a Little Maid.

[salymap]

Thanks, I'll try that box set again when I can.

I must have picked the worst of the Howerd ones. Can't remember which though.

[Northender]

FH is poor in 'Trial By Jury', much better in 'Pinafore'. Apparently the correct name of the set is 'The Brent Walker Gilbert & Sullivan'. One problem is that - presumably for the benefit of US TV executives - every DVD has the same running time, so the self-inflicted dilemma of what to cut arises. D'Oyly Carte didn't want any part of the project, but there are some pretty decent soloists; Donald Adams, Della Jones, Derek Hammond-Stroud, Thomas Hemsley, Richard van Allen, Elizabeth Gale and Elizabeth Bainbridge. The LSO and Ambrosian Opera Chorus under Alexander Faris are excellent throughout. The accompanying text booklets are exemplary.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I thought Frankie Howerd was utterly dire, and was one of the worse examples of dumbing down I have ever come across. The man couldn't sing at all.

[Northender]

I didn't think he was trying to sing...

[salymap]

I was trying to think of the German for it - sprecht something, literally sing/speak. Like Rex Harrison in 'My Fair Lady' but he was good at it - in my view FH wasn't.

[amateur51]

I thought Frankie Howerd was utterly dire, and was one of the worse examples of dumbing down I have ever come across. The man couldn't sing at all.

How can you say that

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McSm0iBKkYM

[Northender]

salymap - I think the term you're seeking is 'Sprechstimme'.

[Northender]

How can you say that

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McSm0iBKkYM

He probably never mastered his scales.

[EdgeleyRob]

As much as I adore British music,I can't abide this stuff,don't want to start a squabble though,each to their own.

[amateur51]

He probably never mastered his scales.

Fins Ain't What They Used To Be

[Anna]

The only G&S I know (that I own) is Patience, aka the Bride of Bunthorpe. I think it is deliciously camp with the references to Oscar Wilde (btw film on tonight about him with Stephen Fry) and lesbian overtunes throughout. In fact, Patience is wonderful, but YotG, shall I listen? Probably not

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

salymap - I think the term you're seeking is 'Sprechstimme'.

"Sprechstimme" is just a (normal-ish) speaking voice over a Musical accompaniment (some of Stanley Holloway's monologues were like this, as was William Shatner's recording of Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds ). "Sprechgesang" is "speech/song", where the rhythm and contour of a melody is sort-of followed by a sort-of speaking voice. Rex Harrison was closer I think to the latter in both My Fair Lady and Dr Doolittle.