Gilbert and Sullivan - Princess Ida - Act Two (BBC, 1989)

Recorded off-air from BBC Radio 2 on 5th November 1989 at 14.00
King Hildebrand: Raimund Herincx
Hilarion: Philip Langridge
Cyril: Neil Jenkins
Florian: Michael Wakeham
King Gama: Derek Hammond-Stroud
AraC: Forbes Robinson
Guron: Leslie Fyson
Scynthius: Paul Hudson
Princess Ida: Valerie Masterson
Lady Blanche: Anne Collins
Lady Psyche: Della Jones
Melissa: Janet Coster
Sachrissa: Jennifer Adams
Chloe: Joyce Mandre
BBC Singers, conductor John Poole
BBC Concert Orchestra, conductor Sir Charles Mackerras
Series producer: Tim McDonald

[@tallpojjy]

I adore this, Valerie Masterson is fantastic as Ida. Thank you for posting it.

[@zelalife2559]

Thank you, I love Princess Ida's music,it's a Sullivan gem, I would rather listen to Ida 10 times than listen to Pirates 1 time

[@richardallen3810]

Critics all agreed in 1884, this Sullivan's best score to date. He worked slavishly perfecting it until dress rehearsal ended at 2:30 am the day before the premiere. He was so I'll and in pain his doctor gave him morphia and Sullivan dragged himself to the Savoy to conduct as they held the curtain till 8:30 pm . Ida ended with tumultuous applause and he wrote in his diary what a great success it was.

[@webrarian]

Fourteen years on, Sullivan was quoted in the 'Musical Times' as saying “I’m always an ill man now, my boy, but I’m coming to hear your music tonight even if I have to be carried”. He was talking to Coleridge-Taylor about the first (semi-private) performance of "Hiawatha's Wedding Feast". I think it gives you an idea of how Sullivan's dealt with his chronic pain and chronic illness. Gilbert was lucky - he could put his deepest feelings into words, but Sullivan had to use his music for that, and - as with Elgar - many people just took it at face value.

[@richardallen3810]

@@webrarian it's written that S. was the only person in the world who attended the first nights of all 14 operas from overture to final curtain.

[@webrarian]

@@richardallen3810 While Gilbert paced outside on the Embankment. Have you seen "The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan"?

[@richardallen3810]

@@webrarian Certainly, great film. Gilbert did not leave the Savoy on Ida's opening to take his customary walk, but stayed in the green room reading the newspaper for fear that at any moment Sullivan would collapse. In fact he did faint at the final curtain call it is written.

[@herbchilds1512]

"Expressive glances / Shall be our lances
And pops of sillery / Our light artillery ..."
Then there's King Gama. 'Yet everybody thinks I'm such a disagreeable man ... and I can't think why!"
The world is but a broken toy. Two hours of supremely silly, sophisticated fun. Seldom seen or heard, such a pity!

[@webrarian]

There's a 1910 on here of the original King Gama, Rutland Barrington. Whether he did with Gilbert's agreement (G was still alive in 1910) but he leaves you in no doubt at all that he DOES know why. I last saw it on stage at Wimbledon Theatre with the D'Oyly Carte using their 1954 sets. That would have been in 1974 or 1975. I do wonder if the lack of good, professional performances hasn't helped 'Ida'. Three acts, that music and dialogue and those sets are never going to show her off to her best advantage in amateur performances.