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The Gondoliers was the last successful collaboration of W.S. Gilbert and Sir Arthur Sullivan. Later, they patched up their quarrels enough to produce Utopia, Ltd. and The Grand Duke, but the old magic was gone; those productions fizzled and the partnership ended. That magic is still strong, however, in this story of aristocratic nonsense, democratic pretensions, and the absurdities that bring the course of true love constantly, perilously close to slapstick comedy. In this production, from the Sydney Opera House, the spirit of Gilbert & Sullivan has successfully crossed the equator, several oceans, and the international date line and landed with its Victorian attitudes intact. Obviously familiar with earlier recordings, the Australian Opera cast has carefully preserved most of the crusty old traditions without slavishly conforming. There is some new, topical material added for this production, but that kind of change is part of the tradition. The formidable mezzo-soprano role of the Duchess is taken by a female impersonator, Graeme Ewer, but he does wonders with it. The choreography is more abundant and elaborate than one usually sees in Gilbert & Sullivan, but that is a plus, making the video dimension specially attractive. The voices in this Gondoliers are, on the whole, marginally better than those usually heard in the D'Oyly Carte recordings, though not better than the casts assembled by Sir Malcolm Sargent for his audio series. --Joe McLellan
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