Princess Ida (Act 1) (Less Overture) - D'Oyly Carte - Gilbert & Sullivan

This lyrical, three act operetta was first performed in 1884. It is positioned between 'Iolanthe' and 'The Mikado'. The libretto satirizes women's education which, back in Gilbert's day, was just coming into fashion. This is the D'Oyly Carte 1965 recording.
The Overture is omitted because of copyright restriction.


--CAST--

King Hildebrand ----------------------------Kenneth Sandford
Hilarion (His Son) --------------------------Philip Potter
Cyril ---------(Hilarion's Friends)---------David Palmer
Florian ------(-------------------------)--------Jeffrey Skitch
King Gama -----------------------------------John Reed
Arac -----------(His Sons)------------------Donald Adams
Guron ---------(-------------)------------------Anthony Raffell
Scynthius----(-------------)------------------George Cook
Princess Ida (Gama's Daughter)------Elizabeth Harwood
Lady Blanche -------------------------------Christene Palmer
(Professor of Abstract Science)
Lady Psyche --------------------------------Ann Hood
(Professor of Humanities)
Melissa ----------------------------------------Valerie Masterson
(Lady Blanche's Daughter)
Sacharissa (A Graduate)----------------Valerie Masterson

---D'Oyly Carte Opera Chorus---
---Royal Philharmonic Orchestra---
---Conductor: Sir Malcolm Sargent---

Recorded at Decca Studios, West Hampstead, May 1965

Information from album notes, and oakapplepress dot com

[janethothersall]

Oh the memories of our Gilbert and Sullivan days at high school...every year we had the joy of singing our hearts out!
Ida is my all time favourite...we also did the mikado, the pirates of Penzance, HMS pinafore, ....total joy!!!

[hilariontada]

My dear Mom brought me to see a LOOM -Light Opera of Manhattan- production of Princess Ida when I was a small boy.  I can still remember it to this day...amazing.  Tonight I'm sitting two rows behind James Levine conducting Wozzeck at The Met...Rock on!

[peterscrafton]

Sargent was a superlative choral conductor; and adding his talents to those of WSG and AS, as well as the impeccable diction and discipline of the D'Oyley Carte make these recordings, in my view, the best of their kind

[Corinthian]

The finale of Princess Ida, Act 1, is, in my opinion, the pinacle of all Gilbert and Sullivan operas.

[wurlitzer]

Thanks so much for uploading these G&S operettas. I appreciate that all music is subjective to the individual, but I think these gems are beautifully written with superb lyrics and music. Sullivan was the perfect partner for Gilbert. His melodies, harmonies and orchestrations are always tasteful and apt. A composer who was far more subtle than many people give him credit for being.  Thanks Sir William and Sir Arthur. You have both enriched my life and given me tremendous pleasure. Peter  

[Corinthian]

Princess Ida, surely the best Giilbert and Sullivan opera!

[karenbachner]

I think Princess Ida is considered one of their best by the critics (read that somewhere). How does one choose a favorite, they are all so wonderful!!!! Thanks for uploading all this happiness for all G&S lovers.


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[Corinthian]

The finale to Act 1 is absolutely magnificent, and as good as anything Gilbert and Sullivan ever wrote! I continue to be amazed that Princess Ida isn't more popular ; in my opinion, it's the best G and S opera of them all !

[jameshorn]

For those who want to see Princess Ida, some scenes are recreated at the begiinning of Topsy Turvy, a movie about the creation of the Mikado. Be warned that the situation is that Princess Ida is that the show is near the end of its run in a terrible heat wave and, though the Savoy Theater was the most modern in the world (first all electric lighitng), air conditioning had not yet been invented, so the performers are sweating heavily. There are also scenes from the Sorceror (revived as a bridge to the next, as yet unwritten shoow) and the Mikado from first reading to first performance. It is a great movie and very much warts and all in its presentation.
Though he was also famous for hymn tunes such as Onward Christian Soldiers, Sullivan was a gambler and womanizer and his need for cash kept driving him back to Gilbert and d'Oyly Carte despite the pressure on him to stop the trivial stuff an produce a symphony or grand opera. For parents, there is a short scene in a French brothel so you may want to pre-screen if you are sensitive to toplessness.

[hellostarshine]

Oh my god I've been trying to figure out this tenor's name for YEARS!
Thanks for posting!

[UnclaimedFr]

Thanks for visiting and commenting, Emma! Glad you enjoyed this. Yes, Gorshin played King Gama in 1982, in a PBS series of G&S.
Besides Riddler, he played in other TV series, including Star Trek's "Let that Be Your Last Battlefield" (1969).

Best Regards,
David

[UnclaimedFr]

Well, you're very welcome, and thanks for stopping by and commenting!
Best Regards,
David

[UnclaimedFr]

Thanks for visiting and commenting, Corinthian44! I'm glad you enjoyed this--may the debate continue.
Best Regards,
David

[UnclaimedFr]

Thank you for your kind words, Karen! I've learned and enjoyed so much during this project.
Best Regards,
David

[robinwilson]

This is my favourite G & S operetta ( I am now told that they were not operettas, and that we must refer to them as comic operas - ??), dating from the early 1960s, when it was put on by my school!

[richardbetton-foster]

The now absurdly dated satire in this opera is what renders it less popular than it should be. This is a shame because the music is of exceptionally good quality and Gilbert's wit is in top form. It's less flamboyant than many G&S operas, having, like Patience, a pastoral feel to it.

[emmadale-hench]

my fave i have frank gorsin playing ida's dad on dvd he was the orginal riddler or joker

[UnclaimedFr]

Hello racehorse87, and thanks for visiting. I don't have a good answer for that--sorry. Maybe it appears elsewhere in a compilation album which has copyright restrictions--don't know.
Best Regards,
David

[jamiebenson]

Does anyone know of any links to videos of Princess Ida fails?

[tonyhurst]

There is no overture as such, only a short prelude.If there was an overture, it would have been printed in the vocal score like all the others. Except Utopia Ltd, which also has no overture.