Gilbert and Sullivan: The Immortal Jesters; 2; The Golden Years
- Episode Number
- 2
- Episode
- The Golden Years
- Producing Organization
- British Broadcasting Corporation
- Contributing Organization
- Library of Congress (Washington, District of Columbia)
- AAPB ID
- cpb-aacip/512-sx6445jg2w
- NOLA Code
- GISN
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- Description
- Episode Description
- The second episode in the story of Gilbert and Sullivan covers the five years from 1880-1885, years that saw the greatest triumphs of this most famous partnership in the English theater. It was their most prolific period, and Londoners crowded the Savoy theater to acclaim the company of Savoyards in hit after hit. So catching are the tunes, so amusing the dialogue, it is easy to overlook the satirical quality of the Savoy operas yet in their day they were considered greatly daring. In Iolanthe for example, Gilbert had a lot of fun at the expense of the House of Lords by suggesting that the peerage should be open to competitive nomination. In The Mikado he chose a Japanese setting which to satirize English prejudices and pomposity. The Mikado was undoubtedly Gilbert and Sullivans greatest success. Wandering Minstrel, Three Little maids, The Flowers that Bloom in the Spring it is filled with wonderful numbers. Yet behind the gaiety and charm of the show lies a backstage story of growing disharmony between librettist and composer. Musical excerpts are presented are from The Pirates of Penzance, Patience, Iolanthe, and The Mikado. (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche)
- Series Description
- These three programs were programs #3, #4, and #5 in the music strip of five programs scheduled for Friday nights Festival of the Arts. They followed the program Congress of Strings. Gilbert and Sullivan: The Immortal Jesters is a romance in three parts based on the story of Gilbert, Sullivan, and Richard DOyly Carte whose combined genius gave us the comic opera. Each hour-long episode is amply spiced with excerpts from the best-known of their works. Sir William Schwenk Gilbert was the senior member of the partnership. Born in 1836, he became a man of many occupations and wide interests. In turn, he was a civil servant, a lawyer, an officer in the militia, and the dramatic critic of the magazine Fun, for which he also wrote verses. He wrote theatrical burlesques. As well, he was a dramatist and stage producer. He incorporated this diversified background into his librettos. His brand of humor had a way of turning everything topsy-turvy to illustrate the faults and inconsistencies of people and institutions. Gilbert was a clever versifier, equally at home with love lyrics in a madrigal style or the pater song which he invented. Although a caustic and irascible man in private life, he could be very generous toward those who knew poverty and distress. Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan was born in 1842, the son of an Army bandmaster. By the time he was eight years old he could play tolerably well almost every instrument in the band. At thirteen he wrote the anthem O Israel, which was published. Two years later he won the first Mendelssohn Scholarship to the royal Academy of music in London. After studying in Germany, Sullivan became organist at St. Michaels Church, Chester Square, London. As a young man he was praised by Charles Dickens for his incidental music for The Tempest. Gilbert and Sullivan were brought together by the English impresario, Richard DOyly Carte. The result was the most popular series of musical plays ever produced, musical plays which set the style of comic opera in England and America for a generation. In spite of this success, the relationship was not a happy one. Sullivan wished to be a classical composer, not a writer of popular music for Gilberts comic rhymes. Gilbert was often irritable and caustically witty. Sullivan was inclined toward extravagance; Gilbert was cautious with money. In 1889, there was a monumental row over a carpet at the Savoy theater which led to a four year break in the partnership DOyly Carte finally reunited the pair, but the works they produced lacked the earlier sparkle. When Sullivan died in 1900 crowds lined the streets for the funeral procession before his burial in St. Pauls Cathedral. Gilbert died eleven years later in an attempt to save a young woman from drowning. Owen Brannigan, John Kentish, John Law, Andrew Gold, Mary Millar, Jean Allister, Terence Cooper, David Watson, Hervey Alan, Stephanie Voss, Eileen Price, Sylvia Eaves, Iona jones ant the George Mitchell Singers. The London Philharmonic Orchestra is conducted by Eric Robinson, and musical associate is William Cox-Ife. Gilbert and Sullivan: the Immortal Jesters was produced by the British Broadcasting Corporation and originally recorded on film. (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche)
- Broadcast Date
- 1962-00-00
- Asset type
- Episode
- Genres
- Drama
- Topics
- Music
- Performing Arts
- Media type
- Moving Image
- Credits
-
-
Actor: Mackenzie, Mary
Actor: Brook, Lyndon
Actor: Clark, Ernest
Actor: Horton, Helen
Actor: Russell, Mairhi
Actor: Wheatley, Alan
Associate Producer: Thorneloe, Travers
Conductor: Robinson, Eric
Producer: Muir, Graeme
Producing Organization: British Broadcasting Corporation
Writer: Voysey, Michael
- AAPB Contributor Holdings
-
Library of Congress
Identifier: 2317823-1 (MAVIS Item ID)
Format: 16mm film
Generation: Copy: Access
Color: B&W
-
Library of Congress
Identifier: 2317823-1 (MAVIS Item ID)
Format: 16mm film
Generation: Copy: Access
Color: B&W
-
Library of Congress
Identifier: 2317823-1 (MAVIS Item ID)
Format: 16mm film
Generation: Copy: Access
Color: B&W
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- Citations
- Chicago: “Gilbert and Sullivan: The Immortal Jesters; 2; The Golden Years,” 1962-00-00, Library of Congress, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC, accessed October 5, 2024, http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-512-sx6445jg2w.
- MLA: “Gilbert and Sullivan: The Immortal Jesters; 2; The Golden Years.” 1962-00-00. Library of Congress, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Web. October 5, 2024. <http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-512-sx6445jg2w>.
- APA: Gilbert and Sullivan: The Immortal Jesters; 2; The Golden Years. Boston, MA: Library of Congress, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Retrieved from http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-512-sx6445jg2w