HMS Pinafore [Cast Recording]

1. Overture

2. We Sail the Ocean Blue

3. I'm Called Little Buttercup - Linda Ormiston

4. My Gallant Crew/I Am the Captain of the Pinafore - Gordon Sandison

5. Over the Bright Blue Sea

6. I'll Give Three Cheers/I Am the Monarch of the Sea

7. When I Was a Lad/For I Hold That on the Seas

8. British Tar

9. Things Are Seldom What They Seem - Linda Ormiston, Gordon Sandison

10. Never Mind the Why and Wherefore - Gordon Sandison

11. Farewell, My Own!

12. Here Take Her, Sir/Oh Joy, Oh Rapture Unforseen! (Finale)

HMS Pinafore,Original Cast,Showtime Operettas,Classical,Opera / Operetta / Oratorio

---

Average customer rating: Great CD's A much maligned joy! A Pinafore performance that deserves more acceptance A good Pinafore, bird, boards and brine included A fun, lighthearted, well-done musical comedy.

Phase 4 Stereo: Gilbert & Sullivan: HMS Pinafore / D'Oyly Carte Opera Company Arthur Sullivan , Arthur Jackson , Thomas Lawlor , Ralph Mason , Valerie Masterson , Donald Adams , John Reed , Christene Palmer , John Ayldon , Pauline Walkes , James Walker , and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Sullivan | Sullivan, Arthur | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Gilbert & Sullivan: The Pirates of Penzance Gilbert & Sullivan; The Mikado Gilbert & Sullivan: Iolanthe Gilbert & Sullivan: The Mikado HMS Pinafore: or The Lass That Loved a Sailor Vocal Score ASIN: B0000042GK Release Date: 1997-11-11

Tracks:

1. HMS Pinafore: Overture
2. HMS Pinafore - Act I: We Sail The Ocean Blue
3. HMS Pinafore - Act I: Hail, Men-O'-Wars' Men
4. HMS Pinafore - Act I: I'm Called Little Buttercup
5. HMS Pinafore - Act I: Aye, Little Buttercup - And Well Called
6. HMS Pinafore - Act I: But, Tell Me - Who's The Youth?
7. HMS Pinafore - Act I: The Nightingale Sighed
8. HMS Pinafore - Act I: A Maiden Fair To See
9. Ah, My Poor Lad, You've Climbed Too High
10. My Gallant Crew, Good Morning
11. HMS Pinafore: I Am The Captain Of The Pinafore
12. HMS Pinafore - Act I: Sir, You Are Sad!
13. HMS Pinafore - Act I: Sorry Her Lot Who Loves Too Well
14. HMS Pinafore - Act I: My Child, I Grieve To See
15. HMS Pinafore - Act I: Over The Bright Blue Sea
16. HMS Pinafore - Act I: Now Give Three Cheers...I Am The Monarch Of The Sea
17. HMS Pinafore - Act I: When I Was A Lad I Served A Term
18. HMS Pinafore - Act I: You've A Remarkably Fine Crew
19. HMS Pinafore - Act I: Ah! Sir Joseph's ATrue Gentleman
20. HMS Pinafore - Act I: A British Tar Is A Soaring Soul
21. HMS Pinafore - Act I: It Is Useless - Sir Joseph's Attentions Nauseate Me
22. HMS Pinafore - Act I: Refrain, Audacious Tar
23. HMS Pinafore - Act I: Can I Survive this Overbearing?
24. HMS Pinafore - Act I: O Joy, O Rapture Unforeseen
25. HMS Pinafore - Act I: This Very Night
26. HMS Pinafore - Act I: Let's Give Three Cheers For The Sailor's Bride

Tracks:

1. HMS Pinafore - Act II: Entracte
2. HMS Pinafore - Act II: Fair Moon, To Thee I Sing
3. HMS Pinafore - Act II: How Sweetly He Carols Forth
4. HMS Pinafore - Act II: Things Are Seldom What They Seem
5. HMS Pinafore - Act II: Incomprehensible As Her Utterances Are
6. HMS Pinafore - Act II: The Hours Creep On Apace
7. HMS Pinafore - Act II: A Simple Sailor, Lowly Born
8. HMS Pinafore - Act II: Madam, It Has Been Misrepresented To Me
9. HMS Pinafore - Act II: Never Mind The Why And Wherefore
10. HMS Pinafore - Act II: Sir Joseph, I Cannot Express To You My Delight
11. HMS Pinafore - Act II: Kind Captain, I've Important Information
12. HMS Pinafore - Act II: Dick Deadeye - I ank Yoiu For Your Warning...Carefully On Tiptoe Stealing
13. HMS Pinafore - Act II: Hold! Pretty Daughter Of Mine
14. HMS Pinafore - Act II: In Uttering A Reprobation
15. HMS Pinafore - Act II: Now Tell Me, My Fine Fellow
16. HMS Pinafore - Act II: Farewell, My Own
17. HMS Pinafore - Act II: A Many Years Ago
18. HMS Pinafore - Act II: Then I Am To Understand
19. HMS Pinafore - Act II: O Joy, O Rapture Unforeseen
20. The Pirates Of Penzance: Hold, Monsters
21. The Pirates Of Penzance: I Am The Very Model Of A Modern Major-General
22. The Pirates Of Penzance: With Cat-Like Tread
23. The Pirates Of Penzance: When the Foeman Bares His Steel
24. Ruddigore: Ruddigore - There Grew a Little Flower (Dame Hannah) (Sir Roderic Murgatroyd)
25. The Mikado: A Wand'ring Minstrel I
26. The Mikado: A More Humane Mikado
27. The Mikado: Three Little Maids From School Are We
28. The Mikado: On A Tree By A Willow, 'Tit Willow'
29. The Mikado: The Flowers That Bloom In The Spring

Customer Reviews:

Great CD's.......2005-09-20

I love the versions of "I Am The Very Model Of A Modern Major-General" and "When I Was A Lad". The lyrics were fairly easy to understand and the vocals were fun and spunky, just as Gilbert & Sullivan should be:). I have no complaints (even the price was right); all in all two great CDs.

A much maligned joy!.......2001-01-20

This recording dating from 1971 is now realised on CD with superb sound quality. The cast was probably the last great line up of the late years of the former D'Oyly Carte Company.

John Reed does appear tired and stale, this is due to the closeness of the recording making for a 'radio broadcast' effect. Thomas Lawler as Capt Corcoran (at the time husband of Pauline Wales, Cousin Hebe) is excellent. I remember seeing this cast in performance, minus Valerie Masterson, who was brought in as guest artiste for the recording. They were superb then, with particular mention of the brilliant Christene Palmer (a fantastic Katisha in The Mikado), Arthur Jackson who had a great presence on stage and was a superb Pooh-Bah, his round tones suit admirably the role of Carpenters-Mate.

Ralph Mason, as Ralph Rackstraw (pronounced as Rafe, a Victorian English idiosyncracy) made a superb attempt at all the parts he played in repertory, of particular note being Earl Tolloller in Iolanthe.

This recording is worth the purchase to recall or find for the first time the last glimpses of this much lamented troupe. Except for the weak John Ayldon, Dick Deadeye, who does not have the satanic glitter of the late Donald Adams or Darrell Fancourt, the rest are superb. A pity the newer, yet fresher company does not have the subtlety of tradition or performance quality. Ah well, lack-a-day! we can't have everything...Can we?

A Pinafore performance that deserves more acceptance.......2000-11-25

Ever since D'Oyly Carte made this wonderful recording of Pinafore in 1971, it has been given somewhat unfair critiques, including one that called it "infamous." That criticism came about because of the distorted sound on the original LP issue, but things seem to have improved with this CD reissue, allowing the performance to be heard more clearly. Nevertheless, the artistic distinction of the performance still manages to shine through brightly, and this alone can contribute to the winning appeal of its admirers.

Even despite the fact that John Reed gives a memorable performance of the Ruler of the Queen's Navee, his portrayal seems to have deteriorated a little bit. This is due to the obvious staleness of his voice (well, it was a feature of all the D'Oyly Carte recordings that were made from the 1968 Pirates onwards, so you mustn't blame him!) and his deteriorating diction. Some of the words were not pronounced clearly, as in his character's famous comical autobiographical song, and there is evidence of sloppiness of hte notes in places. The other major drawback is John Ayldon's Deadeye. Like all D'Oyly Carte recordings to which he contributed, this one was ruined by the unpleasant gruffness of his voice. His portrayal seems not to match Donald Adams on every level. However, for the rest of the cast, there is much to please the ear. Thomas Lawlor makes as first-class a Captain as Jeffrey Stitch, Gordon Sandison or Thomas Allen, but even though he has a slightly heavy and dark-timbred voice, he nevertheless manages to remove it from this recording. He is certainly better suited to this role than to Deadeye, the role he played on the New Sadler's Wells recording. Ralph Mason makes a heady-toned Rackstraw, and he certainly is a joy to hear on record, determined to win the hand of Josephine, who is memorably characterised by the best G&S prima donna, Valerie Masterson. She sings with a full-blooded mature soprano voice with which she gives a melancholy air to her opening ballad and blood to her grand operatic scene. She is certainly better than Jean Hindmarsh, if only by a small margin, even though the twitter in the latter's voice does not hurt at all. And lastly, I would like to highlight the underrated Christene Palmer's fruity portrayal of Little Buttercup, which is on par with Gillian Knight and Felicity Palmer. The rest of the cast is splendid, the choral singing as well-disciplined as the orchestra, and James Walker paces the tempi nicely, with some small quibbles that don't matter a lot. The recording has transferred well to CD, and the sound effects kept to a minimum, to help give a sense of atmosphere. The dry recording is also characteristic of all D'Oyly Carte recordings made from their 1968 Pirates onwards. The major complaint is the Spectacular fill-ups which don't seem to fit in with Pinafore, as they are too improperly chosen and the tempi too slow. If the CD ends with The flowers that bloom in the spring, it does not give a definite sense of an ending.

Overall, I would safely say that while this is not necessarily a first-choice, its artistic merits shine through compellingly to make it be one. Let me advise you to ignore the Spectacular items by programming them out. Anyone who wants a standard D'Oyly Carte performance will be well pleased with this.

A good Pinafore, bird, boards and brine included.......1998-09-30

This CD release of an early 70s recording has been given something of a reprieve from the original branding of it as "the most infamous Pinafore". The added sound effects of seagull, creaking timbers and the sea sloshing against the ship's sides seems mostly to have been forgiven. These aural props are only present between songs and when present provide a pleasant theatrical quality to the recording. D'Oyly Carte is in good form here and the close microphone Phase 4 recording makes audibility excellent - something Gilbert would have appreciated if the Savoy had offered anything as good.

A fun, lighthearted, well-done musical comedy........1998-09-24

This recording of Pinafore is well done. The listener can really get a sense of the enjoyment the singers experience in this show. It brought back pleasant memories of my own cast experience.

Average customer rating: Great (I suppose) if you already know the words ... He's hardly ever sick at sea .... Outstanding recording - average selection A generous selection!

Gilbert & Sullivan: HMS Pinafore Highlights Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Sullivan | Sullivan, Arthur | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Operas | Opera & Vocal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Operas | Opera & Vocal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Gilbert & Sullivan: The Pirates Of Penzance ASIN: B000004201 Release Date: 1992-10-13

Tracks:

1. HMS Pinafore: Overture
2. HMS Pinafore: Act I: We Sail The Ocean Blue
3. HMS Pinafore: Act I: Hail, Men O'War's Men .. I'm Called Little Buttercup
4. HMS Pinafore: Act I: A Maiden Fair To See
5. HMS Pinafore: Act I: My Gallant Crew .. I Am The Captain Of The Pinafore
6. HMS Pinafore: Act I: Sorry Her Lot Who Loves Too Well
7. HMS Pinafore: Act I: Over The Bright Blue Sea
8. HMS Pinafore: Act I: Sir Joseph's Barge Is Seen
9. HMS Pinafore: Act I: Now Give Three Cheers
10. HMS Pinafore: Act I: When I Was A Lad I Served A Term
11. HMS Pinafore: Act I: Refrain, Audacious Tar
12. HMS Pinafore: Act II: Fair Moon, To Thee I Sing
13. HMS Pinafore: Act II: Things Are Seldom What They Seem
14. HMS Pinafore: Act II: The Hours Creep On Apace
15. HMS Pinafore: Act II: Never Mind The Why And Wherefore
16. HMS Pinafore: Act II: Kind Captain, I've Important Information
17. HMS Pinafore: Act II: Farewell, My Own
18. HMS Pinafore: Act II: A Many Years Ago
19. HMS Pinafore: Act II: Oh Joy, Oh Rapture Unforseen

Customer Reviews:

Great (I suppose) if you already know the words.......2003-03-13

For me, the voices were faint relative to the musical instruments. It was difficult to hear them. Yet, the language was so stylized that, even when heard, understanding the words was tedious and exasperating. Most mannerisms of the stage originated in purposeful behavior, I feel sure, but they detract from the performance when overindulged. I think I'd prefer a studio recording in which the singers sang with unpretentious style right into a microphone, and the audio engineer adjusted tone and timbre. I imagine elitists cluck-clucking about the purity of music without microphones. In my opinion, if you're making a CD, then you've sinned already, so why not go all the way and make a great CD? If my dear reader remains with me at this stage of my rant, I say the performance at the opera house may be mahvelous and pristine, but a CD and an opera house are different media, and performers should optimize for the medium. However, this recording of Pinafore is the best I've found of the sad available lot. I'd rate it 2 stars if it weren't superlative.

... He's hardly ever sick at sea ...........2001-07-31

I must admit, I only bought the opera because I was rather amused by Sideshow Bob's rendition of the HMS Pinafore (Cape Feare, The Simpsons). Since then, I've bought (and enjoyed) the Mikado, planning to get the Pirates of Penzance soon. This opera is both hilarious and beautiful, mainly thanks to a great performance by the D'Oyly Carte opera company. If you're at all interested in classical music and the opera (which you should be), this is something that everyone should have.

Outstanding recording - average selection.......2001-06-14

Nothing more needs to be said about this superb D'Oyly Carte Pinafore, which won a well-dseerved Rosette from the Penguin Guide. Yet, in this highlights disc, I find that despite containing most of the major scenes, I dearly wish that Decca had chosen the excerpts a little more carefully. The lack of the entire "Carefully on tiptoe stealing" sequence seems to be an extremely serious minus in my book, particularly when it presents a sharp twist in the story. In addition, I also find that the inclusion of the entire "Over the bright blue sea" sequence is a little too - too redundent because the entrance of Sir Joseph is more important. Nevertheless, this is a wonderful disc of Pinafore excerpts. It presents a generous selection of excerpts that offers a good playing time without affecting sales of the complete set, and it also is enough to make one feel contented for a long time before purchasing the complete recording.

A generous selection!.......2001-01-05

With so much of the recording offered as highlights it would have been better to purchase the full operetta. This recording dates from 1960 and is superalative in every respect. John Reed, Jean Hindmarsh, Thomas Round together with the late Donald Adams are reasons enough to acquire this version. The only missing quality is the dialogue. Never was the libretti of Gilbert ever spoken with more relish for the language and with such finesse. If you decide upon further investigation I urge you to do so.

Average customer rating: Still the best Fantastic! Imperfect but good Wonderful! Wonderful!!!

Gilbert & Sullivan: HMS Pinafore Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Sullivan | Sullivan, Arthur | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Gilbert & Sullivan: The Pirates of Penzance Gilbert & Sullivan - The Mikado / WNO · Mackerras Gilbert & Sullivan: The Mikado (1950 D'Oyly Carte Recording) - Godfrey; Green; Fancourt; New Promenade Orchestra Gilbert & Sullivan - H.M.S. Pinafore / Marshall, Howerd, Jones, Opera World Gilbert & Sullivan: The Gondoliers ASIN: B00008LJER Release Date: 2003-05-13

Tracks:

1. Overture
2. We Shall Sail The Ocean Blue
3. Hail! Men O'war's Men
4. The Nightingale Sighed
5. A Maiden Fair To See
6. My Gallant Crew, Good Morning
7. Sir, You Are Sad
8. Sorry Her Lot Who Loves Too Well
9. Over The Bright Blue Sea
10. Sir Joseph's Barge Is Seen
11. Now Give Three Cheers
12. When I Was A Lad
13. A British Tar
14. Refrain, Audacious Tar
15. Can I Survive The Overbearing

Tracks:

1. Entracte
2. Fair Moon To Thee I Sing
3. Things Are Seldom What They Seem
4. The Hours Creep On Apace
5. Never Mind The Why And Wherefore
6. Kind Captain, I've Important Information
7. Carefully On Tip-Toe Stealing
8. Farewell, My Own
9. A Many Years Ago
10. A Joy! Oh Rapture Unforeseen

Customer Reviews:

Still the best.......2006-02-27

I really enjoyed this production. It has a different style to the later D'Oyly Carte productions but it still has a great enrgy & the best cast. Jean Hindmarsh is second only to Valerie Masterson as Josephine and John Reid is the only Sir Joseph Porter worth listening to. All in all it is a great recording but make sure you have the libereto to get the most out of the great dialogue

Fantastic!.......2005-12-29

This recording is absolutely wonderful! Thomas Round portrays Ralph fantastically and John Reed is a fabulous Joseph Porter. I recommend this to any Gilbert and Sullivan lover and even those who aren't.
This recording is said and considered to be the best recording the D'Oyly Carte have done of any opera, and this certainly is true.

Imperfect but good.......2005-11-01

This is a very good performance of one of the most popular Savoy operas. The D'Oyly Carte opera company has been known for its added bits of "bussiness" and overacting, and this performance is not spared them; however, it is still quite serviceable.

The casting was admirably done. John Reed plays Sir Joseph with a pompous self-restraint I had not thought him capable of. Thomas Round is probably the best Ralph I've ever heard, and Jeffrey Skitch, as Captain Corcoran, does wonderful things with his solos. Donald Adams, though not the best Dick Deadeye I've encountered, does his usual enthusiastic job with a minimum (for him) of overacting. Gillian Knight is a loveable Buttercup. Jean Hindmarsh, as Josephine has a lovely voice for the part but I found her acting, when coupled with that of the other singers, to be somewhat lacking.

The performance is dotted with little bits of "bussiness"; a whips cracking at Buttercup's initial recitative, supposedly weilded by her. The act one finale contains the most bussiness out of the entire recording, mostly consisting of cheers and handclaps. I think the purpose might be to make the listener feel as if he were at an actual performance; however, when D'Oyly Carte tends to do this it does detract from the musical performance, at least in my opinion.

Overall, definately a worthwhile buy for the Gilbert and Sullivan fan. Slightly flawed, but true to the spirit of the thing.

Wonderful!.......2005-10-24

This recording is wonderful! It has the complete dialogue, so you can listen to it and it sounds like you're actually at the theater. I thought the music was so good, I actually saw the operetta! Any G&S fan or non-fan will love this! I even listened to it with a friend who doesn't like opera, and she found it funny.

Wonderful!!!.......2005-06-13

This is the best recording of H.M.S. Pinafore that I have ever heard. Jean Hindmarsh(as Josephine) has a superb voice. It is sung with ethusiasm and is fun to listen to(if not the easiest thing to sing to!) I would recomend this to any G&S lover.

Average customer rating: Nice to have all the endings A performance that matches D'Oyly Carte standards Suffers only by comparison

Gilbert & Sullivan: HMS Pinafore William Schwenk Gilbert , and Simon Phipps Manufacturer: Jay Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Sullivan | Sullivan, Arthur | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Gilbert & Sullivan: H.M.S. Pinafore / Mackerras, Welsh National Opera Gilbert & Sullivan; The Mikado The Pirates of Penzance Gilbert & Sullivan: The Pirates of Penzance ASIN: B00000JJ2I Release Date: 1999-07-13

Tracks:

1. Act One: Ov
2. Act One: We Sail The Ocean Blue
3. Act One: (I) Hail, Men-O'-War's Men/(II) I'm Called Little Buttercup/(III) But Tell Me Who's The...
4. Act One: (I) The Nightingale/(II) A Maiden Fair To See
5. Act One: (I) My Gallant Crew/(II) I Am The Captain Of The Pinafore/(III) Sir, You Are Sad
6. Act One: Sorry Her Lot
7. Act One: (I) Over The Bright Blue Sea/(II) Sir Joseph's Barge Is Seen
8. Act One: (I) Now Give Three Cheers/(II) I Am The Monarch Of The Sea
9. Act One: (I) When I Was a Lad/(II) For I Hold That On The Seas
10. Act One: A British Tar
11. Act One: Refrain, Audacious Tar
12. Act One: Finale Act One: (I) Can I Survive This Overbearing?/(II) Mess Mates Ahoy/(III) Shall...

Tracks:

1. Act Two: Entr'acte
2. Act Two: Fair Moon, To Thee I Sing
3. Act Two: Things Are Seldom What They Seem
4. Act Two: The Hours Creep On Apace
5. Act Two: Never Mind The Why And Wherefore
6. Act Two: Kind Captain, I've Important Information
7. Act Two: (I) Carefully On Tiptoe Stealing/(II) Hold, Pretty Daughter Of Mine/(III) He Is An...
8. Act Two: Farewell My Own!
9. Act Two: (I) My Pain And My Distress/(II) A Many Years Ago
10. Act Two: Finale Act Two (A) - (I) Here Take Her Sir/(II) Oh Joy, Oh Rapture Unforseen!
11. Act Two: Finale Act Two (B)
12. Act Two: Finale Act Two (C)

Customer Reviews:

Nice to have all the endings.......2003-03-24

I love this cd though I don't believe the New Saddler Wells Opera Co. did as good a job on this one as they did on Ruddigore. But i still feel it was excellent and worth any G&S fan worth buying just to have all the alternative endings that come with it.

A performance that matches D'Oyly Carte standards.......2000-11-25

The short-lived but rather innovative New Sadler's Wells Opera company, founded on the same principles as D'Oyly Carte, made two significant recordings of Gilbert and Sullivan during its stay in the limelight. The 2 operas in question were Ruddigore and Pinafore, as presented here. Along with their Ruddigore (also on TER and Jay) this Pinafore is able to reach the standards of D'Oyly Carte's fabulous 1960 performance and Sir Charles Mackerras's indispensible Telarc performance, yet there are some small quibbles that I will talk about later.

In the cast, Nickolas Grace makes a funny and hilarious Ruler of the Queen's Navee. Because of the funny upperclass accent that shows off how snobbish he can be, he gives a certain edge to his character and a new insight I have never felt before. (What, never? Well, hardly ever!) The funniest part of his portrayal is his performance of his famous autobiographical song, and with its ridiculously fast tempi, it certainly encourages many a new listener to emulate him by sticking close to their desks and never going to sea. Gordon Sandison's characterisation of the gallant Captain is surely one of the best portrayals I have heard, because it shows that he fits the role as naturally as Jeffrey Skitch, Thomas Allen and Thomas Lawlor. Though he played the Boatswain in the well-produced Brent-Walker video, and Sir Joseph in the latest D'Oyly Carte recording, he fits the part of the captain best because his voide is too heavy and not dry enough for Sir Joseph and he does better justice to himself when he does the Captain, where his voide is most suited to the part. The two lovers are extremely romantic, and even Buttercup shows how fruity she is, despite the slight lack of colour. The only failiure of the cast is Thomas Lawlor's Dick Deadeye, because he fails to capture his villainous side. He is as humane as the eponymous title-character in the most popular G&S opera, and, like Sandison, he feels better suited to the part of the Captain, which is eloquently demonstrated in the 1971 D'Oyly Carte recording. The chorus is crisply disciplined as the orchestra, and Simon Phipps paces the music fluently, but at times the tempi is not quite right.

And now to the complaints. Firstly, the recording is not as natural as you expect it to be, thus making most of the voices (except Grace and Sandison) and the orchestra sound artificial. In addition, there are orchestral problems, for though Simon Phipps elicits crisply-disciplined playing from the orchestra, there is a lack of richness in the orchestral sound that is more eminent in the D'Oyly Carte and Mackerras sets. The second complaint is about the inclusion of the Rule Britannia finale. I feel that while patriotism is one of the themes in the opera, it is not significant because it is totally eclipsed by the theme of love levelling all ranks (as shown in the bell trio, Never mind the why and wherefore.) Including Rule Brtannia at the end of the opera is totally unnecessary because there is enough patriotic sentiments in the first-act trio, A British tar is a soaring soul, and the Act 2 song, He is an Englishman. These two patriotic numbers in the opera emphasise the theme well, and Rule Britannia will not be significant in this respect. As compensation, two version of the Act 2 finale are included, one with the familiar ending used in the overture and the Act 1 finale, and the other (more acceptable one) with the original ending that features brass chords based on Sir Joseph's motif and string tremolos to show the unity of social classes through love, ending with chords from the whole orchestra with timpani backing.

Overall, while I don't consider this to be a first choice for a superlative-quality recording of the opera, it will be sure to find a happy home in any G&S library, and sit comfortably alongside other recordings of Pinafore, including the three 2 Decca and TER D'Oyly Carte versions, the EMI Sargent/Glyndebourne set and the indispensible Telarc Mackerras recording.

Suffers only by comparison.......1999-09-29

This immensely popular work appeared in an almost musically complete set in the days of acoustic 78 rpms, more complete on an electrically recorded 78 rpm, a monophonic LP, and then on four stereo versions, all of which are still available for purchase.

Now being an operetta, "Pinafore" has spoken dialogue and two recordings include it: the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company production on London (now called Decca) 414 283-2 and a second one by the same company with a somewhat different cast. What ever you do, avoid the second one, also on Decca, that has a conductor named James Walker. The first one is conducted by G&S veteran Isidore Godfrey and is far superior. For once in a musical, the dialogue is as good as the lyrics (well, okay: "Guys & Dolls" comes close); but I wonder if you will want to hear it each time you play the CDs. And you cannot program the dialogue out, because Decca does not start a new track when the spoken words follow the music. Fortunately the singing and playing is superb, so this is a very good bet.

On the other hand, the singing and playing on the New Sadler's Wells Opera version, conducted by Simon Phipps, is just as good. In fact, the Sir Joseph Porter is a non-traditional interpretation, singing as he does with a super-cultivated upperclass accent that is truly funny. Without the dialogue, the work is still spread over two CDs to make room for three different versions of the last bars of the Act II Finale. Unhappily so much of the same music is repeated each time, that I wonder why simply didn't play the final bars without all the lead in. At any rate, this is a very good choice if you can live without the dialogue. Look for this on the Jay label (CD JAY2 1324).

Now we need a third hand! Every note of the music appears on a single CD on the Telarc label (CD-80374), this time with the Orchestra & Chorus of the Welsh National Opera under Sir Charles Mackerras. Some top-notch British opera stars are in the cast and the only tiny drawback is the somewhat leathery basso of the Dick Deadeye (performed by ex-D'Oyly Carte star Donald Adams). Without the dialogue, this has to be the best bargain of the three, so you can buy one for yourself and one as a gift for a friend. And this is important: it is the only one of the three sets that provides the text of all the words that are sung on the recording.

Average customer rating: If the captain scuttles the ship, then take him to court. A better entry in the Sargent Glyndebourne series A frienjd of many years Crisp, bright and breezy!

Gilbert & Sullivan: HMS Pinafore; Trial By Jury Manufacturer: Angel Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Sullivan | Sullivan, Arthur | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Brannigan, Owen | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music ASIN: B000002S3S Release Date: 1993-02-16

Tracks:

1. HMS Pinafore: Overture
2. HMS Pinafore: Act 1: We Sail The Ocean Blue
3. HMS Pinafore: Hail, Men-o'-war's Men
4. HMS Pinafore: I'm Called Little Buttercup
5. HMS Pinafore: But Tell me, Who's The Youth
6. HMS Pinafore: The Nightengale
7. HMS Pinafore: A Maiden Fair To See
8. HMS Pinafore: My Gallant Crew, Good Morning
9. HMS Pinafore: I Am The Captain Of The Pinafore
10. HMS Pinafore: Sir, You Are Sad
11. HMS Pinafore: Sorry Her Lot Who Loves Too Well
12. HMS Pinafore: Over The Bright Blue Sea
13. HMS Pinafore: I Am The Monarch Of The Sea
14. HMS Pinafore: When I Was A Lad I Served A Term
15. HMS Pinafore: A British Tar Is A Soaring Soul
16. HMS Pinafore: Refrain, Audacious Tar
17. HMS Pinafore: Can I Survive This Overbearing
18. HMS Pinafore: Oh Joy, Oh Rapture Unforeseen
19. HMS Pinafore: This Very Night With Bated Breath
20. HMS Pinafore: Let's Give Three Cheers
21. HMS Pinafore: Entr'acte
22. HMS Pinafore: Act II: Fair Moon, To Thee I Sing
23. HMS Pinafore: Things Are Seldom What They Seem
24. HMS Pinafore: The Hours Creep On Apace

Tracks:

1. HMS Pinafore: Act II Cont.: Never Mind The Why And Wherefore
2. HMS Pinafore: Kind Captain, I've Important Information
3. HMS Pinafore: Carefully On Tiptoe Stealing
4. HMS Pinafore: Pretty Daughter Of Mine
5. HMS Pinafore: Farewell My Own
6. HMS Pinafore: A Many Years Ago
7. HMS Pinafore: O Joy, O Rapture Unforseen
8. Trail By Jury: Hark, The Hour Of Ten Is Sounding
9. Trail By Jury: Now Jurymen Hear My Advice
10. Trail By Jury: Is This The Court Of The Exchequer
11. Trail By Jury: When First My Old, Old Love I Knew
12. Trail By Jury: Silence... All Hail Great Judge
13. Trail By Jury: When I, Good Friends, Was Call'd To The Bar
14. Trail By Jury: Swear Thou The Jury
15. Trail By Jury: Where Is The Plaintiff
16. Trail By Jury: Comes The Broken Flower
17. Trail By Jury: Oh, Never, Never, Never
18. Trail By Jury: May It Please You My Lud
19. Trail By Jury: That She Is Reeling Is Plain To Me
20. Trail By Jury: Oh Gentlemen Listen I Pray
21. Trail By Jury: That Seems A Reasonable Proposition
22. Trail By Jury: A Nice Dilemma We Have Here
23. Trail By Jury: I Love Him With Fervour Unceasing
24. Trail By Jury: The Question, Gentlemen, Is One Of Liquor
25. Trail By Jury: Oh Joy Unbounded

Customer Reviews:

If the captain scuttles the ship, then take him to court........2002-03-14

I owned this recording on LP for many years. (D'you remember the LP?)While the playing and singing are for the most part extremely good, it's the tempi in "Pinafore" that really bogs things down. Of all the G&S scores, this is the freshest and saltiest, and should lift you off your seat, instead of keeping you couch-bound. "Trial by Jury" is a different matter entirely, a true joy, recorded as though it were a live performance, complete with chorus mutterings and madcap mayhem: you can almost see the staging. Why doesn't the rest of the series have this kind of life? "Trial" was the reason I saved this recording for so long, and the real reason to buy it, if you must. If not, stick to the old D'Oyly Carte. That one showed me how "Pinafore" is supposed to go.

A better entry in the Sargent Glyndebourne series.......2001-02-22

This PINAFORE was recorded when Sargent's Glyndeourne series was underway. Of the installments in the "big three" operas, this seems to be the most successful of them all. Sargent's preference for slow tempi does not rear its ugly head as vigorously as it did in MIKADO and in PIRATES. The paying of the so-called Pro-Arte Orchestra is of a standard as high as the singing, and the EMI recording is well up to the standard of the other entries of the Glyndebourne series. However, as usual with this series, there is a certain amount of dreariness that steals a little of the G&S fun.

George Baker maintains his touch solidly as the Ruler of tthe Qyeen's Navee. Despite his age (he was in his mid-seventies and past his prime) he manages to give a distinctive portrayal and first-rate diction. The rest of the cast, notably James Milligan as the Boatswain, John Cameron as the Captain and Monica Sinclair as Little Buttercup, all make the most of their songs just as you would expect them to. Richard Lewis and Elsie Morrison as the two romantic lovers help to demonstrate the romantic theme of the opera eloquently, if not convincingly enough, and they both sing with a refined tone. What is notable is Owen Brannigan's portrayal of the jealous and mishapen Dick Deadeye. It may lack the villainy that makes Donald Adams' performance to lifelike, but I feel that Brannigan manages to convey his personality and give it a disttinctive "Brannigan Touch." The choral singing, as always, is top-notch and accompanies the singers well. What makes this issue tempting is the inclusion of the first-rate TRIAL BY JURY recording that many consider the best Sargent/Glyndebourne entry.

To sum everything up, this PINAFORE is adequate enough to compete with the best recorings, but with livelier recordings available, particularly by D'Oyly Carte and Mackerras, this cannot be anybody's first choice unless you admire Sargent's conducting style or are extremely curious.

A frienjd of many years.......2000-01-14

I've loved the Sargent G&S series on EMI for years and owned them all on lp. It was in this one that I first encountered the singing of the great Welsh tenor, Richard Lewis. I recently found his recordings of Handel Arias--the best I've ever heard--on Dutton CD's and urge fans to get it. George Baker, the Joseph Porter in this recording is ideal for G&S comic roles--funny without being silly or effete.

Crisp, bright and breezy!.......1999-04-17

This recording, one of a series made by EMI to rival the D'Oyly Carte recordings, is fresh and bright as a coat of new paint on the hull of this delectable ship. Richard Lewis, as Ralph (pronounced as Rafe, a Victorian idiosyncracy!)is superbly refined as a singer and displays a 'fresh' approach to his arias. James Cameron as Capt Corcoran, is also equally robust and both are the stars of the production. The chorus and orchestra, both collected together for the recordings are disciplined and crisp. Sir Malcolm, is his usually precise self and conducts a superb rendition of the the opera. The omission of dialogue is felt, and one longs for the nuances of the D'Oyly carte cast in their portrayals. The 1959 recording with John Reed as Sir Joseph Porter K.C.B, conducted by Isidore Godfrey is still the finest on record. The coupling of Trial by Jury is superb and a rival to the D'Oyly Carte Company recordings. Of the series this is the best of them, with Iolanthe being a close second. The whole series is worth having if you are an avid collector of G&S.

Average customer rating:

HMS Pinafore Manufacturer: Intersound Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000009JB1 Release Date: 1995-04-16

Average customer rating:

HMS Pinafore ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music ASIN: B00004T2K3 Release Date: 2003-01-21

Average customer rating:

Gilbert/Sullivan:HMS Pinafore Trial B D'Oyly Carte Opera Manufacturer: One World Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B00000DOLX Release Date: 1993-04-09

Average customer rating:

HMS Pinafore & Mikado Gilbert & Sullivan Manufacturer: Happy Days (UK) ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music ASIN: B000006110 Release Date: 1996-09-17

Average customer rating:

The Best of Gilbert & Sullivan: Songs and Choruses from The Mikado; The Gondoliers; The Pirates of Penzance; HMS Pinafore; Iolanthe Gilbert & Sullivan , Sir Malcolm Sargent , Glyndebourne Festival Chorus , and Pro Arte Orchestra Manufacturer: Capitol ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B00000DO21 Release Date: 1989-06-16

Meditation Music:

1. Humperdinck: Hänsel und Gretel/Weber: Abu Hassan
2. Il Barbiere di Sivigliadi Gioachino Rossini (1905 - 46)
3. J.P.E. Hartmann: Liden Kirsten
4. Jacques Offenbach: La Fille Du Tambour-Major
5. Janácek: The Beginning Of A Romance
6. Leoncavallo: La Bohème
7. Leoncavallo: Pagliacci
8. Mahler, Brahms, Wagner and others
9. Mascagni: Cavalleria Rusticana
10. Mascagni: Le Maschere

Meditation Music

meditation music

Meditation Music

Welcome Back My Friends [Import]

Music of Gerald Levinson

Nocturnal

Music: Possessed

Mundian to Bach Ke [CD-single] [Import]

Nocturnal Wonderland

Memorabilia [Import]

Nice and Nicely Done

No Tears/What Use: Remixes & Originals

Sacred

Nightshade/Inner City Blues [Box set] [Import]

Libre [Import]

Los Reyes de la Salsa

Where Moth and Rust Destroy

Compact Jazz