Composers and their stage works 


W[illiam] S[chwenk] GILBERT

(1836 - 1911): English poet, dramatist, columnist and librettist. Born London November 18, 1836: died Harrow, Middlesex May 29, 1911

GILBERT AND SULLIVAN OPERETTAS

Unless otherwise indicated, the operettas were first performed in London. Librettos: W. S. Gilbert. Music: Arthur Sullivan.

  1. Thespis, or The Gods Grown Old. Grotesque opera, 2 acts. Published 1871. Produced Gaiety Theatre, Dec. 26, 1871.
  2. Trial by Jury. Dramatic cantata, 1 act. Published 1875. Produced Royalty Theatre, Mar. 25, 1875.
  3. The Sorcerer. Comic opera, 2 acts. Published 1877. Produced Opera Comique, Nov. 17, 1877.
  4. H.M.S. Pinafore, or The Lass That Loved a Sailor. Nautical comic opera, 2 acts. Published 1878. Produced Opera Comique, May 25, 1878.
  5. The Pirates of Penzance, or The Slave of Duty. Melodramatic opera, 2 acts. Published 1880. Produced Paignton, Devonshire, Royal Bijou Theatre, Dec. 30, 1879; New York, Fifth Avenue Theatre, Dec. 31, 1879 ("official" premiere); London, Opera Comique, Apr. 3, 1880.
  6. Patience, or Bunthorne's Bride. Aesthetic opera, 2 acts. Published 1881. Produced Opera Comique, Apr. 23, 1881; Savoy Theatre, Oct. 10, 1881 (theatre opening).
  7. Iolanthe, or The Peer and the Peri. Fairy opera, 2 acts. Published 1882. Produced Savoy Theatre, Nov. 25, 1882.
  8. Princess Ida, or Castle Adamant. Respectful operatic perversion of Tennyson's The Princess; prologue and 2 acts. Published 1884. Produced Savoy Theatre, Jan. 5, 1884.
  9. The Mikado, or The Town of Titipu. Japanese opera, 2 acts. Published 1885. Produced Savoy Theatre, Mar. 14, 1885.
  10. Ruddigore, or The Witch's Curse. Supernatural opera, 2 acts. Published 1887. Produced as Ruddygore, the title changed a few days after the premiere. Savoy Theatre, Jan. 22, 1887.
  11. The Yeomen of the Guard, or The Merryman and His Maid. Opera, 2 acts. Published 1888. Produced Savoy Theatre, Oct. 3, 1888.
  12. The Gondoliers, or the King of Barataria. Comic opera, 2 acts. Published 1889. Produced Savoy Theatre, Dec. 7, 1889.
  13. Utopia (Limited), or The Flowers of Progress. Comic opera, 2 acts. Published 1893. Produced Savoy Theatre, Oct. 7, 1893.
  14. The Grand Duke, or The Statutory Duel. Comic opera, 2 acts. Published 1896. Produced Savoy Theatre, Mar. 7, 1896.

PLAYS

Unless otherwise indiated, the plays were first performed in London.

  1. Uncle's Baby. Farce. Produced Lyceum Theatre, Oct. 31, 1863. Attribution to Gilbert is doubtful.
  2. Ruy Blas. Burlesque. Published Warne's Christmas Annual, 1866.
  3. Hush-a-Bye Baby on the Tree-top. (With Charles Millward). Pantomime. Produced Astley's Amphitheatre, Dec. 26, 1866.
  4. Dulcamara, or The Little Duck and the Great Quack. Extravaganza. Published 1866. Produced St. James's Theatre, Dec. 29, 1866.
  5. La Vivandiere, or True to the Corps. Extravaganza. Published 1868. Produced Liverpool, St. James Hall, June 15, 1867.
  6. Robinson Crusoe, or The Injun Bride and the Injured Wife. (With Henry James Byron, Thomas Hood, Henry S. Leigh, and Arthur Sketchley). Burlesque. Produced Haymarket, July 6, 1867.
  7. Allow Me to Explain. Farce. Produced Prince of Wales's Theatre, Nov. 4, 1867.
  8. Highly Improbable. Farce. Produced Royalty Theatre, Dec. 5, 1867.
  9. Harlequin Cock Robin and Jenny Wren; or Fortunatus and the Water of Life, the Three Bears, the Three Gifts, the Three Wishes, and the Little Man Who Woo'd the Little Maid. Pantomime. Published 1867. Produced Lyceum Theatre, Dec. 26, 1867.
  10. The Merry Zingara, or The Tipsy Gipsy and the Pipsy Wipsy. Burlesque. Published 1868. Produced Royalty Theatre, Mar. 21, 1868.
  11. Robert the Devil, or The Nun, the Dun and the Son of a Gun. Extravaganza. Published 1868. Produced Gaiety Theatre, Dec. 21, 1868.
  12. No Cards. Musical comedietta. Published 1901. Produced Royal Gallery of Illustration, Mar. 29, 1869. Music: L. Elliott.
  13. The Pretty Druidess, or The Mother, the Maid and the Mistletoe Bough. Extravaganza. Published 1869. Produced Charing Cross Theatre, June 19, 1869.
  14. An Old Score. Comic drama. Published 1869. Produced Gaiety Theatre, July 19, 1869.
  15. Ages Ago: A Ghost Story. Operetta. Published 1869. Produced Royal Gallery of Illustration, Nov. 22, 1869. Music: Frederick Clay.
  16. The Princess. Burlesque. Published 1870. Produced Olympic Theatre, Jan. 8, 1870.
  17. The Gentleman in Black. Musical comedietta. Produced Charing Cross Theatre, May 26, 1870. Music: Clay.
  18. Our Island Home. Musical entertainment. Produced Royal Gallery of Illustration, June 20, 1870.
  19. The Palace of Truth. Fairy comedy. Published 1870. Produced Theatre Royal, Haymarket, Nov. 19, 1870.
  20. Randall's Thumb. Comic drama. Produced Court Theatre, Jan. 25, 1871.
  21. A Sensation Novel. Operetta. Published 1912. Produced Royal Gallery of Illustration, Jan. 30, 1871.
  22. Creatures of Impulse. Drama. Produced Court Theatre, Apr. 15, 1871. Music: Alberto Randegger.
  23. Great Expectations. Drama. Produced Court Theatre, May 29, 1871.
  24. On Guard. Comedy. Produced Court Theatre, Oct. 28, 1871.
  25. Pygmalion and Galatea. Comic drama. Produced Theatre Royal, Haymarket, Dec. 9, 1871.
  26. A Medical Man. Farce. Produced St. George's Hall, Oct. 24, 1872.
  27. Happy Arcadia. Operetta. Published 1872. Produced Royal Gallery of Illustration, Oct. 28, 1872. Music: Clay.
  28. The Wicked World. Fairy comedy. Published 1873. Produced Royal Opera House, Haymarket, Jan. 4, 1873.
  29. The Happy Land. (With Gilbert à Beckett). Burlesque. Published 1873. Produced Court Theatre, Mar. 3, 1873.
  30. The Realm of Joy. Burlesque. Produced Royalty Theatre, Oct. 18, 1873.
  31. The Wedding March. (Adaptation). Comedy. Produced Court Theatre, Nov. 15, 1873. Based on Eugene Labiche's Le chapeau de paille d'Italie.
  32. Charity. Drama. Produced Royal Opera House, Haymarket, Jan. 3, 1874.
  33. Ought We to Visit Her? (with Annie Edwards). Comedy. Produced Royalty Theatre, Jan. 17, 1874.
  34. Committed for Trial. (Adaptation). Comedietta. Produced Globe Theatre, Jan. 24, 1874. Based on Le réveillon, by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy. Early version of On Bail.
  35. Topsey Turveydom. Extravaganza. Published 1931. Produced Criterion Theatre, Mar. 21, 1874.
  36. Sweethearts. Comic drama. Produced Prince of Wales's Theatre, Nov. 7, 1874.
  37. Tom Cobb; or, Fortune's Toy. Comedy. Produced St. James's Theatre, Apr. 24, 1875.
  38. Eyes and No Eyes; or, The Art of Seeing. Comedietta. Published 1896. Produced St. George's Hall, July 5, 1875. Music: F. Pascal.
  39. Broken Hearts. Fairy drama. Produced Court Theatre, Dec. 9, 1875.
  40. Princess Toto. Comic opera. Published 1876. Produced Nottingham, July 1, 1876. Music: Clay.
  41. Dan'1 Bruce, Blacksmith. Drama. Produced Royal Opera House, Haymarket, Sept. 11, 1876.
  42. On Bail. Farcical comedy. Produced Criterion Theatre, Feb. 3, 1877. Revision of Committed for Trial.
  43. Engaged. Farcical comedy. Produced Royal Opera House, Haymarket, Oct. 3, 1877.
  44. Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. (With Byron, Francis Cowley Burnand, and Robert Reece). Pantomime. Produced Gaiety Theatre, Feb. 13, 1878.
  45. The Ne'er-do-Weel. Comedy. Published 1878. Produced Olympic Theatre, Feb. 25, 1878.
  46. Gretchen. Drama. Published 1879. Produced Olympic Theatre, Mar. 24, 1879.
  47. Foggerty's Fairy. Fairy comedy. Published 1881. Produced Criterion Theatre, Dec. 15, 1881.
  48. Comedy and Tragedy. Drama. Produced Lyceum Theatre, Jan. 26, 1884.
  49. Brantinghame Hall. Drama. Published 1888. Produced St. James's Theatre, Nov. 29, 1888.
  50. The Brigands. Burlesque opera. Published 1871. Produced Plymouth, Sept. 2, 1889. Music: Jacques Offenbach.
  51. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Burlesque. Produced Vaudeville Theatre, June 3, 1891.
  52. The Mountebanks. Comic opera. Produced Lyric Theatre, Jan. 4, 1892. Music: Alfred Cellier.
  53. Haste to the Wedding. Comic opera. Produced Criterion Theatre, July 27, 1892. Music: George Grossmith.
  54. His Excellency. Comic opera. Produced Lyric Theatre, Oct. 27, 1894. Music: Osmond Carr.
  55. The Fortune Hunter. Farce. Published 1897. Produced Birmingham, Sept. 27, 1897.

CRITICISM

F. L. Moore, Crowell's Handbook of Gilbert and Sullivan, New York, 1962;
R. Mander and J. Mitchenson, Gilbert and Sullivan, Chester Springs, Pa., 1963;
L. Ayre, The Gilbert and Sullivan Companion, London, 1972;
L. Baily, Gilbert and Sullivan and Their World, London, 1973;
M. K. Sutton, W. S. Gilbert, Boston, 1975;
J. Wolfson, Final Curtain: The Last Gilbert and Sullivan Operas, London, 1976.
Jane W. Stedman, W.S. Gilbert - A Classic Victorian and his Theatre Oxford University Press 1995
ed. Ian Bradley, The Complete Annotaded Gilbert & Sullivan, Oxford University Press 1996