The 1966 BBC Patience

This recording is part of a series broadcast by the BBC in 1966. It has never been released commercially but is included here for its historical importance, and because many fans own pirated tapes. Notable cast members include Peter Pratt, the former D'Oyly Carte patter baritone, as the Major-General; Derek Hammond-Stroud as Grosvenor (he would also be a successful Bunthorne in the ENO production, and on the Brent Walker video; Andrew Sachs (Manuel from Fawlty Towers) as the dialogue Grosvenor; and Prunella Scales (Cybil of Fawlty Towers) as the dialogue Patience. As Chris Webster observed, "What a shame John Cleese didn't play Bunthorne."

Peter Pratt's performance is especially impressive, showing off a very different character than one would know from his commercial recordings of other operas. Also impressive is Donald Francke's Colonel, whose tone coloring on the long held notes of "If you want a receipt" has never been bettered.

See the historical tour for further discussion.