I agree in part with both the above reviews.
Some of the numbers are cut short and the editing is irritating as the cuts are obvious. The video duration is 54 minutes and they manage to include 'over 20 scene selections', as stated on DVD cover, by making many so short.
Although I, too, would have loved to have had some of the well-known D'Oyly Carte Opera Company names, I thought the singers chosen sang and acted well with the exception of Peter Pratt. I'm afraid I agree that he gave a lacklustre performance. The star of the show is John Ayldon who is a natural for Gilbert and Sullivan, with a beautiful bass baritone voice and excellent facial expression, extracting all the humour from each of his solos. He demonstrates that joy of performing which I would associate with Gilbert and Sullivan operas and the DVD is worth purchasing for his performances alone.
Personally, I found the snippets of conversation between Gilbert and Sullivan in their Albert Hall box rather charming.
It would be excellent if the whole concert can be released on DVD. Meanwhile, G & S fans would get pleasure from this shorter version.
(A few small points: The DVD is actually called 'Gilbert and Sullivan, Their Greatest Hits'. Sullivan, in one of the conversations, says the concert is taking place in 1982, rather than 1983. For some reason, bass baritone John Ayldon is down as Alan Ayldon in the closing credits.)
Some of the numbers are cut short and the editing is irritating as the cuts are obvious. The video duration is 54 minutes and they manage to include 'over 20 scene selections', as stated on DVD cover, by making many so short.
Although I, too, would have loved to have had some of the well-known D'Oyly Carte Opera Company names, I thought the singers chosen sang and acted well with the exception of Peter Pratt. I'm afraid I agree that he gave a lacklustre performance. The star of the show is John Ayldon who is a natural for Gilbert and Sullivan, with a beautiful bass baritone voice and excellent facial expression, extracting all the humour from each of his solos. He demonstrates that joy of performing which I would associate with Gilbert and Sullivan operas and the DVD is worth purchasing for his performances alone.
Personally, I found the snippets of conversation between Gilbert and Sullivan in their Albert Hall box rather charming.
It would be excellent if the whole concert can be released on DVD. Meanwhile, G & S fans would get pleasure from this shorter version.
(A few small points: The DVD is actually called 'Gilbert and Sullivan, Their Greatest Hits'. Sullivan, in one of the conversations, says the concert is taking place in 1982, rather than 1983. For some reason, bass baritone John Ayldon is down as Alan Ayldon in the closing credits.)
