MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Gilbert & Sullivan: The Pirates of Penzance (with Overtures)

Sir Malcolm Sargent's classic late-1950s/early 1960s recording of the Savoy opera. The Glyndebourne Festival Chorus is joined by an expert array of soloists, including George Baker, Owen Brannigan, Richard Lewis, Elsie Morison and Monica Sinclair.

"From the beginning of the Overture you sense a high spirited exceptional recording. George Baker is in his element as the Major-General and Monica Sinclair is a lovable Ruth. The slight disappointment is Richard Lewis as Frederic who sounds far more mature than his 21 years! The Pirates King's song, which needs to swagger along, is taken at an excruciating slow speed."
* * * * (*) Five Stars. (Mel Moratti)

"The Pirates of Penzance recording is one of the very best Sargent inscriptions. It's energetic and witty, and has a sure sense of style. It must also be borne in mind that the dialogue is omitted from this and all these performances. Sargent points When Frederic was a little lad strongly, which Monica Sinclair despatches with oratorio fervour. James Milligan is in fine voice for Oh, better far and the excellently judged duet, Oh, false one, is an example of the care and discrimination soloists, conductor and engineers extended to the concerted numbers. Here and elsewhere they are invariably good. Crowd scenes have been energetically and plausibly done and the set piece I am the very model of a modern Major-General is taken quite sedately. There are clever pauses and fine rubati from the star of the show, George Baker."
(MusicWeb March 2009)

NOTE: The cover may differ from that shown