OBSERVER: G&S Musical Celebration
To celebrate the 70th Anniversary of Opera Australia, this prolific company has over 700 performances planned throughout the year.
I was most fortunate to attend the Opera Australia Gilbert and Sullivan Company’s musical celebration at the majestic Regent Theatre in Melbourne, with an ensemble of eight magnificent Opera Australia principals conducted by UK-born, internationally renowned director and keyboard specialist, Chad Kelly.
Some very lucky patrons managed to be seated ‘Cabaret style’ in the orchestra pit, comfortably enjoying their sparkling wine while getting ‘up close and personal’ with the performers.
It is always such a treat to hear Orchestra Victoria, led by Yi Wang, but even more so as we saw them on stage for this production.
They opened each Act with a breathtaking overture. Act One with the overture to Iolanthe and Act Two, the imposing dramatic Yeomen of the Guard.
Following on, our performers, looking stunning in their coordinated evening wear, entertained us with mostly comical, with some dramatic excerpts from The Gondoliers, Ruddigore, H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance, The Yeoman of the Guard, The Mikado and Iolanthe.
Gilbert and Sullivan operettas were written to make people happy. The charming melodies, sometimes graceful and lyrical, but mostly rollicking along are always singable for the audience and many found it hard not to hum along. The lyrics are witty, whimsical, elegant, often silly but always clever, and kudos to the performers as every word was clearly enunciated and heard, especially the ‘patter songs’ that were taken at an astonishing pace.
Standouts for me were Josephine’s aria The Hours Creep on Apace from H.M.S. Pinafore and The Sun whose Rays from Mikado, probably because I had performed them myself in eisteddfods many moons ago and know how difficult they both are.
The Pirate King was an audience favourite as was Hail Poetry. I must also commend the choreography, simple but exceptionally well executed and the lighting added much to the visual appeal.
Congratulations on another fabulous variety concert of superb music.
Review by Lucy Nicolson