Karaoke Gilbert and Sullivan (1993)

a/k/a

The Singer's Gilbert & Sullivan (1998?)

Soloists: Susan McCulloch, lyric soprano Elizabeth Gale, soprano Fiona Kimm, mezzo-soprano John Oakman, tenor Steven Page, baritone Richard Halton, baritone Czech Sympnony Orchestra and The Holst Singers Conductor: John Landor

IMP Classics DPCD-1067

Karaoke Gilbert and Sullivan

This is a two-disc/cassette set, where the first disc/cassette consists of G&S songs with accompaniment and chorus only—the owner is expected to supply the solos! The second disc/cassette has the same programme, except that the solos are supplied. I am no great fan of this set, so I thought I'd provide a review from somebody who seems to like it, Chris Webster:

This is an intesting novelty two-disc set. Disc two may be looked on individually as an excerpts disc, but its main purpose is to hear the songs in preparation for having a go at the karaoke versions on disc one. Disc one features good accompaniments (possibly Sir Arthur's) with chorus, and works very well for the majority of numbers.

Obviously, with karaoke you have to follow the orchestra's lead, which is fine for the majority of numbers but does make it very difficult at times when the singer has a section not sung in tempo, e.g., pauses for "sat-a-gee," Mabel's "Poor Wand'ring One" cadenza, etc. Most people who buy this set would surely know all the items, so the inclusion of the second disc is annoying as it has doubled the price of the set. However, disc one is a great idea, but does require practice for some numbers — I have used the Nightmare Song very successfully in cabaret.

Listening to disc one without joining in (not easy to do) is quite entertaining, as we do not usually hear the solo accompaniments, and the sudden joining in of the chorus can be quite comical, particularly in "A Policman's Lot." Recording dates show that the accompaniments were recorded first (1st and 2nd March 1993) and the vocals added later (2nd April 1993).

A 32 page booklet is gives all the words, and each singer gets her own page with a photo and biography (Fiona Kimm was Tessa in the Brent Walker Gondoliers video), which I would not have thought necessary for this project. Pickwick have also released 'Karaoke Opera' (CD, cassette and video), and 'Karaoke Broadway' (CD and cassette)

Selections are as follows, with initials of soloists (disc/cassette two only) shown in parentheses:

The Singer's Gilbert & Sullivan

Wilbur Watkin Lewis reported that the 1998-1999 Hal Leonard "Music for Singers" catalog included "The Singer’s Gilbert & Sullivan," described as follows:

Each CD contains two versions of each selection: one with singer, and one with orchestra accompaniment only. All books in the series contain historical and plot notes about each opera, operetta or show, and piano/vocal reductions of the music. The singers heard on these recordings are top professionals from Covent Garden, English National Opera and other main stages.

According to the catalog, each CD also comes with a book. Contents are as follows:

The Singer's Gilbert and Sullivan Women's Edition (ISBN 00740055)

I'm called Little Buttercup Three Little Maids The Sun, whose rays are all ablaze Poor Wand'ring One When Frederic was a little lad Oh Goddess wise To a garden full of posies When maiden loves, she sits and sighs

The Singer's Gilbert and Sullivan Men's Edition (ISBN 00740056)

Take a pair of sparkling eyes When I was a lad When you’re lying awake A wand'ring minstrel I As some day it may happen Willow, tit-willow I am the very model of the modern major-general Oh, is there not one maiden breast

This is obviously the same material as the Karaoke set, rearranged into a Women's disc and a Men's disc. Seven items from the original set are omitted. Interestingly, the Women's disc includes all voice types, but the Men's disc includes only tenor and patter baritone numbers (the bass numbers from the original set having been dropped).