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.
Time—Early 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.
Date—16th 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.
Date—1750. |
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 I—Scene. Public Square of Spiesesaal.
Act II—Scene. 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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