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CD and Audio
UTOPIA LIMITED
Including Bonus Extras - Macbeth, Victoria & Merrie England suite, Marmion (or A Tale of Flodden Field) and Imperial March
Label: London
Performed by: D'Oyly Carte Opera Chorus, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by: Royston Nash
No of Discs: 2
Selections Price: £7.99
Amazon.co.uk Price: £14.99
Amazon.co.uk Customer Review
Utopia has never been a huge favourite in the G&S canon. There are echoes of previous works in words and music. BUT there is much that is memorable, including the entrance of the first life guards, the ensemble at the end of the Act I finale, the comic 'A Tenor All Singers Above', the Minstrels' song and 'Eagle High'. The recording is OK - bearing in mind it is the only one available - but some of the tempi could do with speeding up and the chorus diction (and that of Lyndsie Holland as Lady Sophy) is not as good as other DC recordings. It's enjoyable, but doesn't quite sparkle. The extras - Imperial March, Macbeth, Marmion and Victoria & Merrie England suite - all highly polished and impressive.
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from Selections
UTOPIA LIMITED
Label: Decca
Performed by: D'Oyly Carte Opera Chorus, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by: Royston Nash
No of Discs: 2
Amazon.co.uk Price: £6.97
Description
The current recording was released at the end of 1975 and was the direct result of the first professional revival by D'Oyly Carte as part of their centenary season at the Savoy earlier that year. As a result of this stage version the recording has more of a theatrical feel to it than (for example) the 1968 SORCERER, recorded at a time when that opera was not in the repertoire.
Recorded without dialogue (except for a few snatches in Act Two) the recording is a little brighter than one might have expected, and many of the numbers rattle off at a cracking pace. John Reed and John Ayldon are excellent as the two wise men and Kenneth Sandford turns in a wonderful performance as King Paramount. Pamela Field and Meston Reid make a delightful pair of lovers.
There are a number of musical gems, not least the duet for Nekaya and Kalyba, the twin princesses, although the voices of both Julia Goss and Judi Merri are perhaps a little weighty for 18 year old girls. The cabinet council scene is a winner as always.
Orchestra and chorus are well directed by Royston Nash, and this latest CD reissue by DECCA seems to have taken the nasty harsh edge off the recorded sound that seemed to be present on the original L.P. issue.
The fillers are a welcome reissue and give a delightful taster of some of Sullivan's rarer orchestral music
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UTOPIA LIMITED [IMPORT]
Label: Newport
Performed by: Ohio Light Opera
Amazon.co.uk Price: £23.99
Amazon.co.uk Customer Review
At last a recording of UTOPIA that actually makes a persuasive case for revival. The problem with this work is that it falls somewhat between two stools. Written as a reconciliation between Gilbert and Sullivan after the three year rift following the
infamous 'carpet quarrel', Sullivan in the interim had produced a Grand Romantic Opera, IVANHOE, and a Light Opera, HADDON HALL, and the darker, weightier mood of these two works seems to carry over into much of UTOPIA. Gilbert too, was in a darker mood, using the plot to
satirize virtually everything English and leaving very little time for much of a storyline.
All credit then to Ohio Light Opera for seizing the opportunity to bring out the Savoy spirit that is present in the piece and for making this recording a highly enjoyable one. The criticism leveled at the same
company's PRINCESS IDA with regard to the American accent cannot be leveled here for it is hardly detectable.
In fact there is not a weak link and, despite a number of dull pages in both score and libretto, the performance sparkles from beginning to end. UTOPIA has many great moments but this is probably the first time that a recording brings them all out.
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