Discography of Sir Arthur Sullivan:
Instrumental Compilations

EMI ASD 2435

This recording was the first appearance of Sullivan's "Irish" Symphony on disc, and indeed, the first modern recording of anything substantial outside of the operas. Groves gives a somewhat dull reading of the score, which has been eclipsed, I feel, by the more recent Hughes/BBC recording. The Overture di Ballo, of course, has been recorded many times, and there is nothing remarkable about this reading of it.

The issue history below chronicles the release of these items as a pair. Follow the hyperlinks to the sections on Symphony in E and Overture di Ballo for reissue details of the items individually.

Decca SPA-548

This disc combines Sir Charles Mackerras's latest recordings of two works with which he is highly familiar: his own ballet arrangement for Pineapple Poll, and Sullivan's best-known concert work, the Overture di Ballo.

The issue history below shows the history of these two recordings as a pair. See the Pineapple Poll and Overture di Ballo pages for further issues of each recording individually.

This disc presented the innaugural recording of Sullivan's Cello Concerto in D, newly reconstructed by David Mackie and Sir Charles Mackerras, who also conducts. The cellist is the Julian Lloyd Webber, Andrew's brother.

Coupled with the Sullivan concerto are Victor Herbert's Cello Concerto No. 2 in E minor and Elgar's Romance for Cello and Orchestra. These are appropriate pairings, as both composers are considered musical heirs of Sullivan's. And Herbert, like Sullivan, is far better known for his musical theater works than for his serious music.

The Sullivan and Elgar pieces have been re-issued on CD, coupled with the Groves recording of the Symphony in E and Overture di Ballo.

Bandleader BNA 5067

This extremely enjoyable disc contains thirteen Sullivan selections. The program is an appealing mix of the familiar and the obscure, all played with great virtuosity. To anyone willing to try a change of pace, this disc will deliver considerable enjoyment.

This is the second Sullivan recording by the Royal Military School band; the other, dating from 1959, contained instrumental excerpts from The Yeomen of the Guard and The Gondoliers.

The selections on this disc are as follows:

1. The Procession — March (arr. F. Renton)
2. Iolanthe Overture (arr. N. Richardson)
3. "Three Little Maids from School" (arr. P. Stredwick)
4. Incidental Music to Shakespeare's Henry VIII (arr. F. Renton)
   1. March
   2. King Henry's Song
   3. Graceful Dance
5. Danish March (Princess of Wales March) (arr. F. Renton)
6. The Yeomen of the Guard Overture (arr. W. J. Duthoit)
7. The Absent-Minded Beggar March (arr. F. Renton)
8. "The Lost Chord" (arr. F. Renton)
9. The Battle of St. Gertrude (arr. D. Bertie)
10. March of the Peers (arr. F. Renton)
11. Overture di Ballo (arr. F. Renton)

The item called "The Battle of St. Gertrude" is, in fact, an instrumental setting of "Onward, Christian Soldiers." (St. Gertrude was Sullivan's name for the tune.)

EMI CDM7 64726 2

This compact disc, part of a "British Composers" series, contains Sullivan's Concerto in D for Cello and Orchestra, re-issued from the 1986 Sullivan & Herbert LP, plus the Overture di Ballo and Symphony in E, "Irish", re-issued from Sir Charles Groves's 1968 recordings.

Filling out the disc is Sir Edward Elgar's Romance, originally issued on the Sullivan & Herbert disc.

Another entry in the same "British Composers" series offers Pineapple Poll and several overtures.

Arthur Sullivan: Irish Symphony, etc. BBC Concert Orchestra Owain Arwel Hughes, conductor Recorded: 29-30 November 1993

This recording presents four major works from Sullivan's non-operatic output: the Symphony in E, the Imperial March, the Ballet Suite No. 1 from Victoria and Merrie England, and the Overture in C, "In Memoriam". The disc presents an excellent cross-section of material. The symphony and "In Memoriam" overture are early works and date from the period when most of the musical community, and probably Sullivan himself, assumed his true calling to be that of a serious composer. The Imperial March, a pièce d'occasion, is a late work and shows Sullivan's gift for orchestral color at its best. Victoria, also a late work, shows Sullivan where he was most comfortable, in the theater.

In short, the programming of this disc is particularly appropriate for the listener looking to explore the whole range of Sullivan's output. It is well worth hearing.

Amati 9703

Gulda, Sullivan: Cello Concertos

Southwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra

Martin Ostertag, Cello
Klaus Arp, conductor

This recording presents the somewhat odd coupling of cello concertos by Arthur Sullivan (1842-1900) and Friedrich Gulda (b. 1930). The liner notes are only in German, but as far as I can tell, they do not pretend to claim any nexus between the two concertos. At any rate, we now have a second recording of Sullivan's cello concerto to choose from. I didn't do a side-by-side comparison, but the new recording seems every bit as good as the old, while the Gulda concerto intrigues with its novelty.

The CD is not likely to be encountered in most stores, but it is orderable at many of the web-based record stores, as well as from the distributor, Qualiton.

Chandos 9859

So far, my only review is from Ian Bond, who wrote: "It is disappointing, to say the least. "In Memoriam" is pedestrian, The Tempest uninspired, The Symphony rushed (come on boys let's get it out of the way and go home!!) — one would have hoped Hickox would have had a little more respect. All I can say is — stick to Groves on EMI."

British Music Collection: Arthur Sullivan

The contents of this disc, all previously released material, include:

Decca 468 810-2

1. "The Lost Chord" (Stuart Burrows, tenor; Martin Neary, organ; The Ambrosian Singers; Wyn Morris, cond.

2. "Onward, Christian Soldiers" (arr. Rogers; The Eric Rogers Chorale & Orchestra)

3. "Overture di Ballo" (Philharmonia Orchestra; Sir Charles Mackerras, cond.)

4. Henry VIII Incidental Music: March and Graceful Dance (D'Oyly Carte Opera; Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; Royston Nash, cond.)

5. Macbeth Overture (Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; Royston Nash, cond.)

6. Victoria and Merrie England Suite No. 1 (Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; Royston Nash, cond.)

7. Marmion Overture (Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; Royston Nash, cond.)

8. "My Dearest Heart" (Felicity Palmer, soprano; John Constable, piano)

9. Pineapple Poll Suite (Eastman Wind Ensemble; Frederick Fennell, cond.)

The arrangements of "The Lost Chord" (rec. 1968) and "Onward, Christian Soldiers" (rec. 1963) are arguably overwrought, arranged in a "101 Strings" style that was popular a generation ago, but that most listeners today would consider tasteless. The orchestral selections are all fine performances, and Felicity Palmer's "My dearest heart" tastefully refined.