GILBERT & SULLIVAN: IOLANTHE - D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY, ROYAL PHILHARMONIC, ROYSTON NASH (2 CDS)

The D’Oyly Carte Company began its association with Decca after World War II, embarking on a series of recordings in the late 1940s and early 50s of the major Savoy Operas. A subsequent stereo-era cycle, begun in 1957, was followed in turn by a new series of which the present 1974 recording of ‘Iolanthe’ is part and, in many respects, it is superior to its 1960 predecessor. Whereas the former set had used an ad-hoc orchestra, one of the glories of this remake is the contribution of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – immediately apparent from the atmospheric strings at the start of the overture (one of the few which Sullivan composed himself) and the brilliant woodwind playing in its fleet-footed dancing passages. Even though the RPO is far larger than the pit bands Sullivan composed for and conducted, it is a rare treat to hear one of his richest scores rendered so sumptuously under the assured baton of Royston Nash (company Music Director from 1971 to 1979).Lead comedian John Reed’s r