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The Savoy Operas of Gilbert and Sullivan


Savoy operas were a unique genre of comic opera that flourished in Victorian England during the late 19th century. The term itself derives from the Savoy Theatre in London, constructed by impresario Richard D'Oyly Carte specifically to stage the collaborative works of librettist W.S. Gilbert and the composer Arthur Sullivan. Though other composer-librettist teams produced operas for the Savoy Theatre, Gilbert and Sullivan opera enjoyed a meteoric rise and dominated English musical theatre for over two decades. The partnership eventually dissolved due to creative disagreements, marking the decline of the Savoy opera era. Their contribution, however, remains the most renowned and synonymous with the genre. The innovative blend of elements they pioneered, along with the enduring popularity of their individual works, also significantly influenced the development of the modern musical. Savoy operas distinguished themselves from the popular Italian operas of the era in several key aspects. Firstly, they were performed entirely in English, a deliberate choice to cater to domestic audiences. Secondly, the narratives and characters were distinctly British, often drawing inspiration from English history, societal figures, and even mythology. Satire played a significant role, with witty dialogue and humorous situations poking fun at social norms and class structures of the Victorian era. Musically, Savoy operas blended catchy melodies, well-structured ensembles, and intricate wordplay within the lyrics to create a thoroughly entertaining experience.
 
The Opera
Title First Produced Dramatis Personæ Acts/Scenes
Trial By Jury 25 March 1875,
Royalty Theatre
THE LEARNED JUDGE.
THE PLAINTIFF.
THE DEFENDANT.
COUNSEL FOR THE PLAINTIFF.
USHER.
FOREMAN OF THE JURY.
ASSOCIATE.
FIRST BRIDESMAID.
   
The Sorcerer 17 November 1877,
Opéra Comique
SIR MARMADUKE POINDEXTRE (an Elderly Baronet).
ALEXIS (of the Grenadier Guards—his son).
DR. DALY (Vicar of Ploverleigh).
NOTARY.
JOHN WELLINGTON WELLS (of J. W. Wells & Co., Family Sorcerers).
LADY SANGAZURE (a Lady of Ancient Lineage).
ALINE (her Daughter—betrothed to Alexis).
MRS. PARTLET (a Pew-opener).
CONSTANCE (her Daughter).
Chorus of Villagers.
Act I.Exterior of Sir Marmaduke's Mansion.  Mid-day.

Act II.Exterior of Sir Marmaduke's Mansion.  Midnight.
H.M.S. Pinafore
or
The Lass that Loved a Sailor 
25 May 1878,
Opéra Comique
THE RT. HON. SIR JOSEPH PORTER, K.C.B. (First Lord of the Admiralty).
CAPTAIN CORCORAN (Commanding H.M.S. Pinafore).
TOM TUCKER (Midshipmate).
RALPH RACKSTRAW (Able Seaman).
DICK DEADEYE (Able Seaman).
BILL BOBSTAY (Boatswain's Mate).
BOB BECKETT (Carpenter's Mate).
JOSEPHINE (the Captain's Daughter).
HEBE (Sir Joseph's First Cousin).
MRS. CRIPPS (LITTLE BUTTERCUP) (a Portsmouth Bumboat Woman).
First Lord's Sisters, his Cousins, his Aunts, Sailors, Marines, etc.
Scene.Quarter-deck of H.M.S. Pinafore, off Portsmouth.

Act I.Noon.

Act II.Night.
The Pirates of Penzance
or
The Slave of Duty
3 April 1880,
Opéra Comique
MAJOR-GENERAL STANLEY.
THE PIRATE KING.
SAMUEL
(his Lieutenant).
FREDERIC (the Pirate Apprentice).
SERGEANT OF POLICE.
MABEL,
EDITH,
KATE,
ISABEL
(General Stanley's Daughters).
RUTH (a Pirate Maid of all Work).
Chorus of Pirates, Police and General Stanley's Daughters.
Act I.A Rocky Sea-shore on the Coast of Cornwall.

Act II.A Ruined Chapel by Moonlight.
Patience
or
Bunthorne's Bride
23 April 1881,
Opéra Comique
COLONEL CALVERLEY,
MAJOR MURGATROYD,
LIEUT. THE DUKE OF DUNSTABLE
(Officers of Dragoon Guards).
REGINALD BUNTHORNE (a Fleshly Poet).
ARCHIBALD GROSVENOR (an Idyllic Poet).
MR. BUNTHORNE'S SOLICITOR.
THE LADY ANGELA,
THE LADY SAPHIR,
THE LADY ELLA,
THE LADY JANE
(Rapturous Maidens).
PATIENCE (a Dairy Maid).
Chorus of Rapturous Maidens and Officers of Dragoon Guards.
Act I.Exterior of Castle Bunthorne.

Act II.A Glade.
Iolanthe
or
The Peer and the Peri
25 November 1882,
The Savoy Theatre
THE LORD CHANCELLOR.
EARL OF MOUNTARARAT.
EARL TOLLOLLER.
PRIVATE WILLIS
(of the Grenadier Guards).
STREPHON (an Arcadian Shepherd).
QUEEN OF THE FAIRIES.
IOLANTHE
(a Fairy, Strephon's Mother).
CELIA,
LEILA,
FLETA
(Fairies).
PHYLLIS (an Arcadian Shepherdess and Ward in Chancery).
Chorus of Dukes, Marquises, Earls, Viscounts, Barons and Fairies.
Act I.An Arcadian Landscape.

Act II.Palace Yard, Westminster.
Princess Ida
or
Castle Adamant
5 January 1884,
The Savoy Theatre
KING HILDEBRAND.
HILARION
(his Son).
CYRIL,
FLORIAN
(Hilarion's Friends).
KING GAMA.
ARAC,
GURON,
SCYNTHIUS
(his Sons).
PRINCESS IDA (Gama's Daughter).
LADY BLANCHE (Professor of Abstract Science).
LADY PSYCHE (Professor of Humanities).
MELISSA (Lady Blanche's Daughter).
SACHARISSA,
CHLOE,
ADA
(Girl Graduates).
Soldiers, Courtiers, 'Girl Graduates', 'Daughters of the Plough', etc.
Act I.Pavilion in King Hildebrand's Palace.

Act II.Gardens of Castle Adamant.

Act III.Courtyard of Castle Adamant.
The Mikado
or
The Town of Titipu
14 March 1885,
The Savoy Theatre
THE MIKADO OF JAPAN.
NANKI-POO
(his son, disguised as a wandering minstrel, and in love with Yum-Yum).
KO-KO (Lord High Executioner of Titipu).
POOH-BAH (Lord High Everything Else).
PISH-TUSH (a Noble Lord).
YUM-YUM,
PITTI-SING,
PEEP-BO
(Three Sisters—Wards of Ko-Ko).
KATISHA (an elderly Lady, in love with Nanki-Poo).
Chorus of School-girls, Nobles, Guards and Coolies.
Act I.Courtyard of Ko-Ko's Official Residence.

Act II.Ko-Ko's Garden.
Ruddigore
or
The Witch's Curse
22 January 1887,
The Savoy Theatre
SIR RUTHVEN MURGATROYD (disguised as Robin Oakapple, a Young Farmer).
RICHARD DAUNTLESS (his Foster-Brother—A Man-o'-war's-man).
SIR DESPARD MURGATROYD, OF RUDDIGORE (a Wicked Baronet).
OLD ADAM GOODHEART (Robin's Faithful Servant).
ROSE MAYBUD (a Village Maiden).
MAD MARGARET.
DAME HANNAH
(Rose's Aunt).
ZORAH,
RUTH
(Professional Bridesmaids).

GHOSTS:
SIR RUPERT MURGATROYD (the First Baronet).
SIR JASPER MURGATROYD (the Third Baronet).
SIR LIONEL MURGATROYD (the Sixth Baronet).
SIR CONRAD MURGATROYD (the Twelfth Baronet).
SIR DESMOND MURGATROYD (the Sixteenth Baronet).
SIR GILBERT MURGATROYD (the Eighteenth Baronet).
SIR MERVYN MURGATROYD (the Twentieth Baronet).
SIR RODERIC MURGATROYD (the Twenty-first Baronet).
Chorus of Officers, Ancestors, Professional Bridesmaids and Villagers.
Act I.The Fishing Village of Rederring, in Cornwall.

Act II.The Picture Gallery in Ruddigore Castle.

TimeEarly in the 19th Century.
The Yeoman of the Guard
or
The Merryman and His Maid
3 October 1888,
The Savoy Theatre
SIR RICHARD CHOLMONDELEY (Lieutenant of the Tower).
COLONEL FAIRFAX (under sentence of death).
SERGEANT MERYLL (of the Yeomen of the Guard).
LEONARD MERYLL (his son).
JACK POINT (a Strolling Jester).
WILFRED SHADBOLT (Head Jailer and Assistant Tormentor).
THE HEADSMAN.
FIRST YEOMAN.
SECOND YEOMAN.
FIRST CITIZEN.
SECOND CITIZEN.
ELSIE MAYNARD
(a Strolling Singer).
PHOEBE MERYLL (Sergeant Meryll's Daughter).
DAME CARRUTHERS (Housekeeper to the Tower).
KATE (her Niece).
Chorus of Yeomen of the Guard, Gentlemen, Citizens, etc.
Scene.Tower Green.

Date16th Century.
The Gondoliers
or
The King of Barataria
7 September 1889,
The Savoy Theatre
THE DUKE OF PLAZA-TORO (a Grandee of Spain).
LUIZ (his Attendant).
DON ALHAMBRA DEL BOLERO (the Grand Inquisitor).
MARCO PALMIERI,
GIUSEPPE PALMIERI,
ANTONIO,
FRANCESCO,
GIORGIO,
ANNIBALE
(Venetian Gondoliers).
THE DUCHESS OF PLAZA-TORO.
CASILDA
(her Daughter).
GIANETTA,
TESSA,
FIAMETTA,
VITTORIA,
GIULIA
(Contadine).
INEZ (the King's Foster-mother).
Chorus of Gondoliers and Contadine, Men-at-Arms, Heralds and Pages.
Act I.The Piazzetta, Venice.

Act II.Pavilion in the Palace of Barataria.

Date1750.
Utopia Limited
or
The Flowers of Progress
7 October 1893,
The Savoy Theatre
KING PARAMOUNT THE FIRST (King of Utopia).
SCAPHIO,
PHANTIS
(Judges of the Utopian Supreme Court).
TARARA (the Public Exploder).
CALYNX (the Utopian Vice-Chamberlain).

IMPORTED FLOWERS OF PROGRESS:
LORD DRAMALEIGH (a British Lord Chamberlain).
CAPTAIN FITZBATTLEAXE
(First Life Guards).
CAPTAIN SIR EDWARD CORCORAN, K.C.B. (of the Royal Navy).
MR. GOLDBURY (a Company Promoter; afterwards Comptroller of the Utopian Household).
SIR BAILEY BARRE, Q.C., M.P.
MR. BLUSHINGTON
(of the City Council).

THE PRINCESS ZARA (Eldest Daughter of King Paramount).
THE PRINCESS NEKAYA,
THE PRINCESS KALYBA
(her Younger Sisters).
THE LADY SOPHY (their English Gouvernante).
SALATA,
MELENE,
PHYLLA
(Utopian Maidens).
Act I.A Utopian Palm Grove.

Act II.Throne Room in King Paramount's Palace.
The Grand Duke
or
The Statutory Duel
7 March 1896,
The Savoy Theatre
RUDOLPH (Grand Duke of Pfennig Halbpfennig).
ERNEST DUMMKOPF (a Theatrical Manager).
LUDWIG (his Leading Comedian).
DR. TANNHÄUSER (a Notary).
THE PRINCE OF MONTE CARLO.
VISCOUNT MENTONE.
BEN HASHBAZ
(a Costumier).
HERALD.

THE PRINCESS OF MONTE CARLO (betrothed to Rudolph).
THE BARONESS VON KRAKENFELDT (betrothed to Rudolph).
JULIA JELLICOE (an English Comédienne).
LISA (a Soubrette).
OLGA,
GRETCHEN,
BERTHA,
ELSA,
MARTHA
(Members of Ernest Dummkopf's Company).
Chamberlains, Nobles, Actors, Actresses, etc.
Act IScene. Public Square of Spiesesaal.

Act IIScene. Hall in the Grand Ducal Palace.

Date: 1750.



Source:
W.S. Gilbert. The Savoy Operas. Ware, Herts.: Wordsworth Editions Ltd., 1994..
   

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