Friday, January 23, 2009

Gilbert and Sullivan #1


Scan11229 - Copy, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Aware that I am a great Gilbert and Sullivan fan, Eric Beheim sent me a DVD of "The Gondoliers" done in 1984 at Canada's Stratford Festival.
The production was somewhat over choreographed and the Patter Songs had been updated with a Canadian audience in mind but the "meat and potatoes" of the piece was marvelous.
I have never heard finer voices nor a better orchestra and as far as I could see, not a single musician tapped his foot.

I came up with the picture above which was a poster used in 1890.

Posted by Buckles at 1/23/2009 07:00:00 AM

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Maybe P. T. Barnum, James A. Bailey and others took advantage of the G&S offerings when B&B played the Olympia in London in the winter of 1889, and later when they were in England, 1898-1899? They might have been another inspiration, though less than the Kiralfy brothers, in causing Bailey to bring the superb spectacles to the American circus. Maybe there's more of a tie to G&S and the circus than you think?

23 January, 2009 09:40
Buckles said...

Sometime back in the late 1950's the Ringling Show did a Gilbert & Sullivan web number.
The girls were dressed like pirates (similar to today's Buccaneers cheer leaders) and the webs were spaced so they could spar with sabers that zapped when they touched.
As I recall at one point they played "Poor Wandering One" from Penzance.

23 January, 2009 10:10
Eric said...

In 1981, the Red Unit's web number made extensive use of Gilbert & Sullivan music. Titled “The Good Ship Ringling” its Nineteenth Century nautical theme was undoubtedly inspired by the highly successful 1980 revival of Gilbert and Sullivan’s "The Pirates of Penzance" that had starred Linda Ronstadt and several other headliners from the world of pop and rock. The music score reflected this Gilbert and Sullivan influence: the Overture from "HMS Pinafore," "I’m Called Little Buttercup," the Hornpipe from "Ruddigore," and "We Sail the Ocean Blue." When the girls went into their spin, it was to Sullivan’s music as adapted for the ballet "Pineapple Poll." (This was the last year the show was owned by Mattel and this was also the last big web number.)

23 January, 2009 11:19
Mike Naughton said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1--SaGvs3es


I believe the above youtube link is the same production that Buckles mentioned, The Gondoliers at the Stratford-Upon-Avon Festival in Ontario, Canada.

While working a summer tour with Garden Brothers Circus my family and I (and the Garden kids) spent a wonderful evening with "The Sound of Music". It was the best production of SOM that I have seen, hands down.

We joined their mailing list and have made several trips to see other productions -- a nice get-a-way to Canada, our neighbors to the North.

Eric-- was Margueritte Michelle Ayala the featured aerialist (hair hang) in the Good Ship Ringling aerial ballet?

23 January, 2009 11:37
Bob Karczewski said...

Buckles,
Did you acquire your taste for great music from your Father and Mother?

23 January, 2009 12:27
Buckles said...

On my mother's side of the family the Orton's all learned to play instruments as kids so they could play in the band between their acts.
Once at an Eastern Star banquet in Hugo she walked over to the piano, sat down and started playing and quite well at that. I was very pleasantly surprised.
When they first came out with long playing records I bought a player right away and my dad said that if I came across any Gilbert and Sullivan albums I should give them a try.
When I was in Grade School I wanted to play in the band but since I was one of the few kids with long arms the director insisted I play the trombone, an instrument that held little appeal so I opted out.
The worst mistake I ever made.
On this subject, Pat has managed somehow to get his saxophone home on the bus and each evening I am serenaded while trying to listen to Bill O'Reilly.
I think his grandmother had a hand in this.

23 January, 2009 13:05
Eric said...

(For Mike N.)

Marguerite Michelle was indeed featured in the "Good Ship Ringling" web number. Later in the tour, she was injured when the swivel braided into her hair came undone. After that happened, the web number might have been cut from program.

23 January, 2009 18:22
Anonymous said...

Buckles,
When we were about to start musical instruments, in the 5th grade the teacher said that I definately should take up (thats what he taught) the violin. I told him that it was the cornet (Merle Evans) or nothing he told me that would be OK.
Bob Kitto
PS: I should have put in the time to be a good trumpet player, but it would have required many hours of work and at that age I didn't know enough to follow thru.

23 January, 2009 19:31
Mike Naughton said...

Thank you, Eric, I have another music question for you.
But first, in regards to the Good Ship Ringling aerial ballet, the last traditional aerial ballet on the GSOE.

The preeminent talent agent Bill Hall, "Agent OF the Stars", booked Marguerite Michelle Ayala (nee Padilla, I recall) and her husband, Miguel (low wire, ring 1, opening 2nd half) in this historic production number.
The Good Ship Ringling is one of my favorite GSOE aerial ballets.

Eric, several years later, the Ayala's daughters presented a three ring display of hair hangs under the title, "The Marguerite Michelles", a very artistic and visually stunning moment in the show.
At the end of their acts, the sister go into a spin while revolving in their respective rings to a tune that starts slow and builds in momentum. I believe the tune is Zirkus Renz, the last part of the tune where the music goes from slow to fast.
I might be way off base on this one and hope that you will have some insight.

23 January, 2009 23:18
Eric said...

(For Mike N.)

I only played for two web ballets that featured Marguerite Michelle. The first one was in the 109th Edition. The music used for her “hair hanging heroics” consisted of two old-time numbers: “The Merry Wives of Windsor” Overture and “Dance of the Serpents.” For the 111th Edition (the Nautical number) we played the “Bottle Dance” from “Fiddler on the Roof.” On the 111th Editon, I remember that one of the daughters would be in the ring to style when Miguel Ayala did his low wire act, which started off the second half of the performance. I don’t know what music was used later on for "The Marguerite Michelles."

24 January, 2009 12:03

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