The Reading University Haddon Hall

The Reading University Haddon Hall (1992)

***Cast***
John Manners	James Petts
Sir George Vernon	Ian Henderson
Oswald	Christopher Skidmore
Rupert Vernon	Anthony Witt
The McCrankie	Joff Hamilton
Sing-Song Simeon	Matthew Ellison
Kill-Joy Candlemas	Rupert Perkins
Nicodemus Knock-knee	Christopher Nickless
Barnabas Bellows-to-Mend	Philip Jacobs
Fifth Puritan	Huw Owen
Sixth Puritan	Luke Anderson
Major Domo	Trevor Bottomley
Dorothy Vernon	Ann Todd Howarth
Lady Vernon	Jean Hornbuckle
Dorcas	Jane Amblar
Nance	Anthea Byron
Gertrude	Anne-Marie Catling
Deborah	Doris Sharp

Reading University Music Department
Conductor: Nigel Burton

***Related Pages***
About Haddon Hall
The G&S Archive's Haddon Hall Page

This amateur recording of Haddon Hall was recorded at the Great Hall on the London Road site of Reading University. Unlike the Cheam Operatic Society recording, this includes all the dialogue. However, the performing space was full of echoes and reverberations, making this a less-than-ideal account of the score. The opera's charms do come through, but it takes some work on the listener's part.

Jeff Trim added:

I have often performed in the University Great Hall, where this recording was made. It is hugely resonant and lacks an orchestra pit. This means that all the recordings I have of performances there share the same problems of poor balance and cloudy detail.
The recording issued was compiled from the best takes from the three performances, with the choice of take being supervised by Nigel Burton, conductor, member of music staff at Reading University and president of the Sullivan Society (round about then).
I might add that on the night which I attended, Friday the 8th May 1992, the audience was outnumbered by the cast on stage. A shame, as the amateur cast gave a committed performance worthy of better support.

***Issue History***
Date	Label	Format	Number
1992	SASS	Cassette	None