Search - Arthur Sullivan :: The Mikado: Highlights From The English National Opera Production

This is NOT faithful to the original

S. Wright | Virginia | 01/02/2000

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I became interested in "The Mikado" around age 12 when I viewed an excellent production on PBS. I had a poor taped copy of the music for many years. I purchased this CD with much anticipation as I had been unable to find this music elsewhere on CD. My first listen was so dissappointing! First, Eric Idle is great as a Python, but not as the Lord High Executioner. He does not have a singing voice and he lent entirely too much unprofessionalism to this production. Most distressing was the ad lib on "I've Got a Little List". There were too many references to modern situations rather than those which were written by Gilbert and Sullivan. Additionally, there is some use of vulgar language in this production which was totally unnecessary. IF you are interested in more modern interpretations of Gilbert and Sullivan, then this may interest you. But this particular production is not for the purist. There is really no need to make changes to Gilbert and Sullivan; their wit and melodies stand the test of time and offer us a window into the society and politics of Victorian England."

Eric Idle is a Great Ko-Ko

Keith Anderson | USA | 04/15/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"While Eric Idle does not have an operatic voice, he is a perfectly capable singer. As for "ad-libbing," believe me, he did not. He re-wrote "I've got a little list" to be topical for the time (I lived in England at the time, the and song was hilarious when taken in context.) As I understand it, the "patter song" ("I've got a little list," "The Major-General's song" "Love Unrequited Robs Me Of My Rest" etc.) in each Gilbert and Sullivan song was frequently rewritten to make it topical for the time. The production was directed by Miller, and was set in the roaring 20's. It worked."