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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Having posted reviews of the Mackerras G&S recordings, I decided that I would do the same with the Sargent, so-called "Glyndebourne" recordings, which had been my first introduction to G&S on disc, or, as it was at the time, on cassette. I am delighted to report that these versions still compare more than favourably with most of their rivals and although recorded between 1957 and 1963, the sound is more than acceptable and the playing and singing are very fine indeed; the tempi are perhaps a little lugubrious at times, but to my ears at any rate, the singers are far superior musically to their D'Oyly Carte counterparts and I do not agree with the frequent criticism that they lack an idiomatic feel for the genre. There is very much a "house team" of singers, led by the soprano Elsie Morison, the contraltos Monica Sinclair and Marjorie Thomas, the tenor Richard Lewis, the baritone John Cameron and the bass Owen Brannigan. They were among the leading British (and Australian) singers of the day and excelled particularly in choral music. Smaller parts are taken by artists who would go on to have major international careers, including Elizabeth Harwood, Heather Harper and Helen Watts. The "patter" parts in the earlier recordings are taken by Sir Geraint Evans, who is vocally a bit too heavy, and in the later recordings by the veteran George Baker, who would have been perfect had he not been so old. The recordings, incidentally, are not based on Glyndebourne productions; they simply use the Glyndebourne orchestra and chorus, which at the time numbered such future luminaries as Dame Janet Baker.
"The Mikado" was the first of the nine operas to be recorded and, all in all, it is very satisfying. Elsie Morison and Marjorie Thomas are perhaps a little "po-faced" as Yum Yum and Pitti Sing, but they sing beautifully, while Monica Sinclair relishes all aspects of Katisha's part and is splendidly true throughout her considerable vocal range. Richard Lewis is a stylish Nanki Poo and Owen Brannigan despatches the Mikado's song with aplomb. Ian Wallace is perhaps the best Pooh Bah on record, while John Cameron is a tower of strength as Pish Tush. Geraint Evans points Ko Ko's words with wit and good humour, but his voice is too heavy for the role and the "I am so proud" trio, magnificently sung as it is, loses some of its effect when sung by three hearty bass-baritones. Otherwise, the ensembles are especially fine. The dialogue is, of course, not included, but these re-mastered recordings represent excellent value.
"The Mikado" was the first of the nine operas to be recorded and, all in all, it is very satisfying. Elsie Morison and Marjorie Thomas are perhaps a little "po-faced" as Yum Yum and Pitti Sing, but they sing beautifully, while Monica Sinclair relishes all aspects of Katisha's part and is splendidly true throughout her considerable vocal range. Richard Lewis is a stylish Nanki Poo and Owen Brannigan despatches the Mikado's song with aplomb. Ian Wallace is perhaps the best Pooh Bah on record, while John Cameron is a tower of strength as Pish Tush. Geraint Evans points Ko Ko's words with wit and good humour, but his voice is too heavy for the role and the "I am so proud" trio, magnificently sung as it is, loses some of its effect when sung by three hearty bass-baritones. Otherwise, the ensembles are especially fine. The dialogue is, of course, not included, but these re-mastered recordings represent excellent value.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
A great recording - I listen to it every day. No script - just the music (which is what I wanted)
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is a first-rate recording of `The Mikado' at a very good price. It comes without the spoken dialogue, a fact which will irritate some and please others. Personally I find Gilbert's rather schoolboyish humour does not bear frequent repetition, whereas Sullivan's sparkling music never ceases to please.
The piece is conducted with his customary verve and discipline by Malcolm Sargent, who recorded most of the Savoy operas with much the same team. Together they demonstrate the wealth of talent available to British opera- and concert-goers in the nineteen fifties and sixties. All the soloists on this recording are competent, several are outstanding. I have a personal quibble about the tenor, Richard Lewis. He was a highly-respected singer who had an extremely successful career. All the notes are there and the diction is good, but, for my taste, the voice is insufficiently masculine - I would just like a little more oomph! The other men are all excellent: John Cameron an elegant Pish-Tush, Ian Wallace a suitably bombastic Pooh-Bah, the great Owen Brannigan a menacing Mikado and Geraint Evans a revelation as Ko-Ko - such a treat to hear the part properly sung!
The women are all delightful; one wishes there were more for Jeannette Sinclair to do as Peep-Bo, but Marjorie Thomas, Monica Sinclair and Elsie Morison all give of their admirable best. Perhaps because the soloists are all so good, one realises once again Sullivan's mastery of the ensembles. `Sing a merry madrigal' and `See how the Fates their gifts allot' are both superb.
I have only one other quibble. The Glyndebourne Festival Chorus is lively throughout, singing with good diction and variation of dynamic. But the sopranos do not manage the rise to Bflat in the First Act finale - they are asked to do it twice and on each attempt the sound becomes reedy and thin - a pity because it's such a good finale.
A final aside. This recording, good as it is, is more than fifty years old. Sullivan's music remains extremely popular. Isn't it time someone did a new series of Savoy operas using the best of today's singers? Neville Marriner did an excellent `Yeomen of the Guard' in 1992 with Sylvia McNair, Thomas Allen, Robert Lloyd and Bryn Terfel among others, but as far as I can discover, there have been no more. Such a missed opportunity!
The piece is conducted with his customary verve and discipline by Malcolm Sargent, who recorded most of the Savoy operas with much the same team. Together they demonstrate the wealth of talent available to British opera- and concert-goers in the nineteen fifties and sixties. All the soloists on this recording are competent, several are outstanding. I have a personal quibble about the tenor, Richard Lewis. He was a highly-respected singer who had an extremely successful career. All the notes are there and the diction is good, but, for my taste, the voice is insufficiently masculine - I would just like a little more oomph! The other men are all excellent: John Cameron an elegant Pish-Tush, Ian Wallace a suitably bombastic Pooh-Bah, the great Owen Brannigan a menacing Mikado and Geraint Evans a revelation as Ko-Ko - such a treat to hear the part properly sung!
The women are all delightful; one wishes there were more for Jeannette Sinclair to do as Peep-Bo, but Marjorie Thomas, Monica Sinclair and Elsie Morison all give of their admirable best. Perhaps because the soloists are all so good, one realises once again Sullivan's mastery of the ensembles. `Sing a merry madrigal' and `See how the Fates their gifts allot' are both superb.
I have only one other quibble. The Glyndebourne Festival Chorus is lively throughout, singing with good diction and variation of dynamic. But the sopranos do not manage the rise to Bflat in the First Act finale - they are asked to do it twice and on each attempt the sound becomes reedy and thin - a pity because it's such a good finale.
A final aside. This recording, good as it is, is more than fifty years old. Sullivan's music remains extremely popular. Isn't it time someone did a new series of Savoy operas using the best of today's singers? Neville Marriner did an excellent `Yeomen of the Guard' in 1992 with Sylvia McNair, Thomas Allen, Robert Lloyd and Bryn Terfel among others, but as far as I can discover, there have been no more. Such a missed opportunity!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Classic Mikado
This is a classic version of The Mikado and all the cast are excellent. It was recorded in 1956 and digitally remastered in 1987, but still sounds fresh and clear today. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Ali
Gilbert and Sullivan ;The Mikado
A superb production of this opera. Excellent reproduction. Well worth the purchase price. A joy to listen to again and again.
Published 2 months ago by Maffs
Mikado CD
The item arrived promptly and in the condition it was described (NEW) Thank you.
Published on 14 Feb 2010 by M. Theakston
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