Albany continues its series of recordings of the Ohio Light Opera's productions with Gilbert and Sullivan's The Gondoliers. One could ask why, given the number of British recordings, including multiple versions by the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, there is a need for another Gondoliers with an American cast. For one thing, this set includes the spoken dialogue, which is quite witty and performed here with panache and obvious glee by the young cast. The D'Oyly Carte Company has a venerable performing tradition, but the ...
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Albany continues its series of recordings of the Ohio Light Opera's productions with Gilbert and Sullivan's The Gondoliers. One could ask why, given the number of British recordings, including multiple versions by the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, there is a need for another Gondoliers with an American cast. For one thing, this set includes the spoken dialogue, which is quite witty and performed here with panache and obvious glee by the young cast. The D'Oyly Carte Company has a venerable performing tradition, but the principals portraying young people in the recordings were frequently middle-aged and require some considerable suspension of disbelief. The richness of their characterizations more than compensates for the maturity of their voices, and those recordings are never going to be superseded, but it is refreshing to hear young lovers played by actual young people. The soloists are consistently fine, and their skill as comedians keeps the action moving at a brisk pace. The reduced orchestra and...
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