|
149 of 149 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
More than just a historical curiosity., 31 Aug 2004
For G&S buffs, this is a first class treat. The D'Oyly Carte 1949-51 'Isadore Godfrey Mono Recordings' skillfuly remastered onto CD - and what a box of delights this turns out to be.The first thing that strikes you about this is just how good the recordings themselves sound. Undrstandably, where there is heavy bass in the orchestra, they can be a little 'boomy' at times but, considering how relatively primitive recording techniques were in 1950, the overall result of this remaster is nothing short of miraculous. Preserved here, in doubtless better reproductive condition than when they were originally issued, are performances by some of the great 'legends' of D'Oyly Carte. Martyn Green, Darrell Fancourt, Leonard Osborn and Ella Halman all featuring heavily along with others like Peter Pratt and Joyce Wright, who were yet to become great stars with the company. Of the performances themselves, the main thing that you notice is how 'terribly terribly' correct the English diction is. Most of the time this is of little consequence but just occasionally it intrudes. Muriel Harding's Elsie Maynard in 'Yeoman', for instance, sounds as if she has just stepped out of the hallowed halls of RADA rather than having been on the road as a touring sidekick to a two-bit comic for the past 'whoknowshowmany' years! Incongruous, too, is the use of Ann Drummond-Grant in several roles, including Phoebe Meryll in 'Yeoman', which she never played on stage. Perhaps the fact that she was Mrs Isadore Godfrey at the time had something to do with it! These, however are but small blemishes in what is otherwise a fascinating twelve hour feast of G&S - a series which shows us just how good many of the stars of yesteryear were. Darrell Fancourt's 'Mikado' is a real collectors item and it is wonderful to hear Alan Styler, a much under-rated and unsung performer at his very best. What a shame he was taken from us at the young age of 45 before the later stereo recordings could make the most of his prodigious talents! In truth, though, this collection is tribute to the unique talent of Martyn Green. Here is his signature role, Jack Point, in all its pathetic glory, here are those masterful performances of the patter songs, and here is the definitive recording of Bunthorne in 'Patience'- in my opinion, the finest G&S performance of any on record. This is a collection that will give hours of pleasure to lovers of the Savoy Operas.
|
by Ian Bradley
![Gilbert and Sullivan (1982) [DVD]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51M68ZDSEWL._SL500_SS90_.jpg)
DVD ~ London Symphony Orchestra
![Topsy-Turvy [DVD] [2000]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/512QGSDJAEL._SL500_SS90_.jpg)
DVD ~ Jim Broadbent
~ Sir Arthur Sullivan
![Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy : Complete BBC Series [1979] [DVD]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Z5GDWM45L._SL500_SS90_.jpg)
![Gilbert and Sullivan (1982) [DVD]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51M68ZDSEWL._SL75_SS50_.jpg)
With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is). 
Make sure you always get what you want with an Amazon.co.uk 
Amazon Home