Gilbert & Sullivan / Doyly Carte Opera Company - Gilbert & Sullivan: Princess Ida / Gilbert & Sullivan Spectacular [CD]

The first full-length D'Oyly Carte company recording of a late Savoy opera (Princess Ida), newly remastered and generously coupled with a Phase 4 album featuring hit songs and numbers from the unequalled partnership of W.S. Gilbert and Sir Arthur Sullivan. Princess Ida is unusual among Savoy operas for having a pair of tenor leads, and it is a rare treat to two of the finest tenors in the history of D'Oyly Carte side by side in this recording, and forming a superb trio with baritone Jeffrey Skitch's Florian. Thomas Round gives a heroic performance as the romantic lead, Prince Hilarion, and Leonard Osborn takes the comic role of Hilarion's friend Cyril. The two previous recordings of Princess Ida were heavily cut, whereas this 1954 set presents Sullivan's score (one of his finest) very nearly complete. Also notable is the presence of the soprano Victoria Sladen in the title role. Though not a member of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, she was cast to give vocal authority to one of the most uncompromisingly and thrillingly operatic parts in the G&S canon.