That lecture sounds interesting and I wish I could go.

The lecturer, Robin Wilson, who is professor of mathematics, is the son of former prime minister Harold Wilson, who was also a G&S enthusiast. I've got a book by him which is a photographic record of the old D'Oyly Carte company.

They are broadly the same, Tony, except no-one in the audience stands-up at the big chorus of "With Stre-phon as your foe, no doubt a Fear-ful prospect opens out..".   Well, at least they don't stand up usually.   There are a lot of angels in both.

I caught the end of this programme about Iolanthe on Radio 4 this afternoon. I haven't seen anyone mention it here so if you're interested it should be on LA: Yes it is - I'm listening to it.

15:30
Music Feature
Tales from the Stave: Iolanthe

Frances Fyfield tracks down the stories behind the scores of well-known pieces of music.

Frances is joined by Kit Hesketh-Harvey, opera singer Richard Suart and Gilbert and Sullivan biographer Michael Ainger to look at the manuscript of the celebrated operetta. The score and prompt book offer a vivid insight into a composer at the height of his theatrical powers and a satirist with a clear vision of the way the work should be delivered.

Edit: Interesting programme. I've never been in or seen a whole performance - I must look out for it. At a young age I became familiar with When you're lying awake as my dad sang it. I also loved him singing When the night wind howls.

And I looked! I must've just checked on the previous page - sorry! The programme could have filled an hour couldn't it, with longer musical excerpts and more readings. Radio at its best.

I don't think the cadenza at the end of Poor Wand'ring One was written out in my score - I had fun making one up!

Cadenzas are written out in the vocal score for Mabel on her first appearance, just before her song, and halfway through the song, after a few "ahs", but not just before the end, where it simply says "cadenza ad lib". There's no indication of a cadenza for Phyllis in the vocal score. Some recordings have one but not others.

Ooer what a coincidence - I've just had an email from someone who sends details of local amateur orchestral/chamber music concerts coming up and it includes this:

 

Manchester Universities Gilbert and Sullivan Society (MUGSS)

 

Iolanthe (1960’s version)

 

Date:                30 April to 3rd May. Evening performances are at 7.30pm

Saturday matinee performance at 2.30pm.

 

Venue:             Bruntwood Theatre in the RNCM (Royal Northern College of Music )

 

Tickets:            From £5 to £12,  available from the RNCM box office on 0161 907 5555 or www.mugss.org

 

“A story of love, politics and misunderstandings, Iolanthe is one of the most well-known of Gilbert and Sullivan's operettas with gorgeous music and enchanting characters. MUGSS transports this production nearly one hundred years later into 1960s Britain , keeping all the vibrancy of the show as we visually update it for a modern audience. The bright flower fairies and bumbling archaic peers representing the spirit of change will enthral, and the witty dialogue is as funny and relevant as it was when first produced.

 

We transport Iolanthe into 1960s Britain by visually updating it for a modern audience whilst keeping all the vibrancy of the show. The bright flower themed fairies and the bumbling archaic peers will continue to entertain as well as representing the spirit of the 1960s. The show will retain its host of wonderfully comic characters, and the satirical dialogue which has always made it such a success.”

Two of my friends sang umpteen seasons in the World Of Gilbert + Sullivan company, whose acronym is now politically incorrect...