During the 1970s, and through the mid-1980s, the University of Michigan
Gilbert and Sullivan Society (UMGASS) issued most of its performances on LP records,
and later cassettes. Most of these recordings are not in the scope of this website,
as they generally were purchased only by cast members and local fans. However,
Sounds on CD has started to issue select
UMGASS performances of interest on CD, of which this is the second.
While I was working on the 1973 UMGASS Grand Duke,
it came to my attention that the UMGASS archive contains many
fine live recordings of their stage performances, and so in addition to
their studio Duke I am really happy to be launching a series of these live
recordings with a smashing 1986 performance of Pirates.
When I first heard this I was bowled over by the sheer energy of the live
atmosphere, the talents of the performers and the musicians and also by the
enormous enthusiasm of the audience. This is what G&S is all about! This
performance happily captures the zip of Papp's Pirates,
while remaining faithful to a more traditional style of performance. There are many
fine studio recordings of Gilbert and Sullivan's operas but few of them have
captured the fun and atmosphere of a live performance as this recording has.
Although it is regrettable that fluffs should be present in a recording,
I feel that, for the reasons raised above, this recording will still be a
source of much pleasure.
This recording uniquely incorporates Gilbert's long deleted chorus from the
Lord Chamberlain's license copy of the libretto, "With timid step and watchful
eye," to a setting by UMGASS MD Francis Cianfrocca, Sullivan's original music
having been lost or perhaps never composed. Also, the deleted character "James"
is reintroduced. [James takes about half of the material Gilbert allotted to
Samuel. —ed.]
This recording includes the late Bev Pooley who was a particular favourite
with UMGASS audiences. Bev was a terrific G&S performer who normally played
the patter roles but who, on this occasion, plays a wonderful Sergeant of
Police (even giving us an encore of 'A Policeman's lot' in Latin). With my
hand on my heart, I can honestly say that when I heard recordings of Bev as
Bunthorne and Jack Point I honestly felt as though I was listening to one of
the best performers of these roles that I was ever likely to hear.
