The British Music Collection: Arthur Sullivan

Read About This Recording

How funny was Abbott without Costello? How graceful was Rogers without Astaire? And how good was Sullivan without Gilbert? Well, here's your chance to find out, at least as far as the last of those great teams is concerned.

Arthur Sullivan (1842-1900), in addition to being the musical genius behind the wonderful Gilbert & Sullivan operas (see below) was a multi-faceted and genuinely talented composer whose tastes ran to many different areas and styles. This new release, taken from the beautifully-produced British Music Collection is absolutely priceless.

From the very first track, a song about a lost chord played on the organ, you will hear the musical output of a fascinating stylist. His music for Shakespeare's Macbeth or the incidental music he wrote for Henry VIII, are examples of how a composer can capture the mood of another piece of creativity infusing it with his own style. The best orchestral work on the disc is Sullivan's Pineapple Poll Suite, superbly played here by the Eastman Wind Ensemble led by Frederick Fennell. Indeed, all of the performances in this collection are first-rate.

If you're into pomp and grandeur, the powerful arrangement of Onward, Christian Soldiers will have you marching around your house.

-Jacob Anthony

Quotes

Delightful. -Penguin Guide

Contents

The Lost Chord; Onward, Christian Soldiers; Overture Di Ballo; Henry VIII Incidental Music: March, Graceful Dance; Overture Macbeth; Victoria and Merrie England Suite No. 1; Overture Marmion; My Dearest Heart; Pineapple Poll Suite.

Stuart Burrows, Tenor; Felicity Palmer, Soprano; Martin Neary, Organ; John Constable, Harpsichord; Ambrosian Singers; The D'Oyly Carte Opera Chorus; The Eric Rogers Chorale & Orchestra; Eastman Wind Ensemble; Philharmonia Orchestra; Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; Wyn Morris, Chorusmaster; Sir Charles Mackerras, Royston Nash, Frederick Fennell, Conductors.