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CD and Audio
THE SORCERER
- Complete CD Recording [IMPORT]
Label: Albany
Performed by: Ohio Light Opera Orchestra, The Ohio Light Opera 2005 Festival Orchestra
Conducted by: Steven Byess
Released December 2005
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THE SORCERER / THE ZOO
Label: Decca London
Performed by: D'Oyly Carte Opera Chorus with Ann Hood, Alan Styler, Christine Palmer, Donald Adams, David Palmer, Geoffrey Shovelton, Jean Allister, John Ayldon, Julia Goss, Jane Metcalfe, John Reed, Kenneth Sandford, Meston Reid, Stanley Riley, Valerie Masterson
Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by: Isidore Godfrey / Royston Nash
No of Discs: 2
Amazon.co.uk Price: £11.99
Selections Price: £9.99
Amazon Customer Review
THE SORCERER was recorded by D'Oyly Carte as a last minute project. The company had been scheduled by Decca to record MIKADO under the batton of Sir Malcolm Sargent, but illness struck and
Isidore Godfrey stepped into the breach to complete what is affectionately referred to as the "Decca 2nd Series" with this recording.
THE SORCERER had not been in the repertoire of D'Oyly Carte since before the war, the costumes and scenery having been destroyed in the blitz, and indeed this recording must have been instrumental in the reinstatement of the opera in 1971.
John Reed is as usual excellent as John Wellington-Wells, the sorcerer of the title, with Valerie Masterson in truly magnificent form as Aline. Donald Adams (who sang the Notary in the 1953 recording) gives a wonderful account of Sir Marmaduke and is admirably matched by Christine Palmer's Lady Sangazure. Orchestral and choral work is superb.
THE ZOO first appeared in 1875 just three months after TRIAL BY JURY and as with that work is through composed. The libretto is a wild burlesque of the Victorian conventions of Grand Opera. The opera was lost to sight for many years and was thought to have been destroyed. However, since the rediscovery of the work in the late 1960's, THE ZOO has become a great favourite with amateur companies as a curtain raiser.
Suffice it to say that although never staged by D'Oyly Carte, the company gives a sparkling performance of what is a really hilarious Musical Folly. I tend to feel that the narration is unnecessary and a mistake, but it is unobtrusive enough not to detract from the overall enjoyment.
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THE SORCERER
+ Extracts from other G&S Operettas
Label: Avid
Performed by: D'Oyly Carte Opera Company & Chorus, New Symphony Orchestra,
Martyn Green, Danny Kaye
Conducted by: Isidore Godfrey
No of Discs: 2
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THE SORCERER
[Recorded 1953]
Label: Naxos Historical
Performed by: D'Oyly Carte Opera Company & Chorus with Fisher Morgan,
Neville Griffiths, Jeffrey Skitch, Muriel Harding, Ann Drummond-Grant
Orchestra: New Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by: Isidore Godfrey
No of Discs: 2
Amazon.co.uk Price: £8.99
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THE
MIKADO & THE SORCERER (Abr) [SOUNDTRACK]
Label: Pearl
Performed by: D'Oyly Carte Opera
No of Discs: 2
Amazon.co.uk Price: £17.99
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THE SORCERER / THE ZOO
Label: London
Performed by: D'Oyly Carte Opera Chorus with Donald Adams, David Palmer, Alan Styler, Stanley Riley, John Reed, Christine Palmer, Valerie Masterson, Jean Allister, Ann Hood, Meston Reid, Kenneth Sandford, John Ayldon, Julia Goss, Jane Metcalfe, Geoffrey Shovelton
Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by: Isidore Godfrey / Royston Nash
No of Discs: 2
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Amazon Customer Review
Whilst the Mikado and the 'Pirates' are regularly done to death, on an annual basis, by every amateur company from Tasmania to Tanzania, the 'less popular' works of G and S remain, for many, undiscovered gems. Such is 'The Sorcerer.' This D'Oyly Carte production is (I believe) the only recording in print.
Coupled with it is 'The Zoo', a collaboration of Sullivan and somebody called Rowe. It dates from 1875 and is contemporaneous with Trial by Jury. Quite simply, it is a revelation. It has all the ingredients of a full-scale G and S condensed into 39 minutes and without Gilbert! It makes us wonder 'what might have been?' if Sullivan had worked on a long term project with Rowe rather than Gilbert. If you are replacing your old vinyl or new to G and S then you've got to have it.
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