The Great Carpet Quarrel
Donald Macleod explores the court case between Sullivan, his librettist W.S. Gilbert and the impresario D’Oyly Carte.
Donald Macleod explores the court case between Sullivan, his librettist W.S. Gilbert and the impresario D’Oyly Carte.
Sir Arthur Sullivan became the most renowned composer of the Victorian era, with his fame spreading across Europe and America, too. His output spanned many genres including oratorios, a symphony, chamber music, hymns and anthems, but it was for his collaboration with the librettist W.S. Gilbert on operettas that he is best remembered today. He was a personal friend to royalty, and he was knighted when he was in his early 40s. He also had a liking for playing cards, buying race horses and gambling, frequently losing the substantial earnings from the stage works he’d composed. Sullivan became a pillar of the British musical establishment, so when he died, despite wanting to be buried with his family in Brompton Cemetery, he was laid to rest in the crypt of St Paul’s Cathedral, with an additional service at the Chapel Royal in St. James’s Palace.
In the final decade of Sir Arthur Sullivan’s life, he saw a dream of his come to fruition: a serious grand opera, called Ivanhoe. Sullivan saw it as his most important work. Thanks to his popularity and international fame, the opening night was oversubscribed five times over for tickets. During this period, Sullivan was also regularly commissioned to compose works for royal occasions, such as the festivities surrounding Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubliee. He was viewed a national treasure, and when an argument arose between Sullivan, his librettist W.S. Gilbert, and the impresario Richard D’Oyly Carte, proceedings were followed avidly in the press. It was nicknamed the Great Carpet Quarrel. This put a stop to any collaboration between Sullivan and Gilbert, although in due course they did come together again, and their final operetta was The Grand Duke. It ran for only 123 performances, which D’Oyly Carte regarded as a failure.
The Yeomen of the Guard (Overture) (excerpt)
Academy of St Martin in the Fields
Neville Marriner, conductor
Other Days
Ashley Riches, bass-baritone
David Owen Norris, piano
Onward Christian Soldiers
Huddersfield Choral Society
Wyn Morris, conductor
My Dearest Heart
Felicity Palmer, soprano
John Constable, piano
Ivanhoe (excerpt)
Janice Watson (Lady Rowena), soprano
Geraldine McGreevy (Rebecca), soprano
Neal Davies (King), baritone
Toby Spence (Ivanhoe), tenor
Stephen Gadd (Grand Master), baritone
James Rutherford (Sir Brian), bass-baritone
Peter Rose (Cedric), bass
Adrian Partington Singers
Â鶹ԼÅÄ National Orchestra of Wales
David Lloyd-Jones, conductor
Imperial march
Â鶹ԼÅÄ Concert Orchestra
Owain Arwel Hughes, conductor
Utopia Limited (Society has quite forsaken)
Kenneth Sandford (King), baritone
D’Oyly Carte Opera Chorus
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Royston Nash, conductor
The Grand Duke (excerpts)
Meston Reid (Ernest Dummkopf), tenor
John Ayldon (Prince of Monte Carlo), bass-baritone
D’Oyly Carte Opera Chorus
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Royston Nash, conductor
The Long Day Closes
The Kings Singers
The Gondoliers (excerpts)
Jennifer Toye (Casilda), soprano
Gillian Knight (Duchess of Plaza-Toro), mezzo-soprano
Jeffrey Skitch (Luiz), baritone
John Reed (Duke of Plaza-Toro), baritone
Thomas Round (Marco Palmieri), tenor
Alan Styler (Giuseppe Palmieri), baritone
New Symphony Orchestra of London
Isidore Godfrey, conductor
Produced by Luke Whitlock
Last on
More episodes
Next
Coming soon
Music Played
-
Arthur Sullivan
Other Days
Performer: David Owen Norris. Singer: Ashley Riches.- Chandos : CHAN20239.
- Chandos.
- 5.
-
Arthur Sullivan
Onward Christian Soldiers
Choir: Huddersfield Choral Society. Conductor: Wyn Morris.- DECCA : 452-252-2.
- DECCA.
- 1.
-
Arthur Sullivan
My Dearest Heart
Performer: John Constable. Singer: Felicity Palmer.- DECCA : 4688102.
- DECCA.
- 9.
-
Arthur Sullivan
Ivanhoe (Act 3 excerpt)
Singer: Janice Watson. Singer: Geraldine McGreevy. Singer: Neal Davies. Singer: Toby Spence. Singer: Stephen Gadd. Singer: James Rutherford. Singer: Peter Rose. Choir: Adrian Partington Singers. Orchestra: Â鶹ԼÅÄ National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: David Lloyd-Jones.- CHANDOS : CHAN-10578.
- CHANDOS.
- 15.
-
Arthur Sullivan
Imperial march
Orchestra: Â鶹ԼÅÄ Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Owain Arwel Hughes.- CPO : 9991712.
- CPO.
- 5.
-
Arthur Sullivan
Utopia Limited (Society has quite forsaken)
Singer: Kenneth Sandford. Choir: D'Oyly Carte Opera Chorus. Conductor: Royston Nash.- Decca: 4736622.
- Decca.
- 3.
-
Arthur Sullivan
The Grand Duke (Were I a king in very truth)
Singer: Meston Reid. Choir: D'Oyly Carte Opera Chorus. Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Royston Nash.- Decca : 473 635 2.
- Decca.
- 15.
-
Arthur Sullivan
The Grand Duke (Take my advice, when deep in debt)
Singer: John Ayldon. Choir: D'Oyly Carte Opera Chorus. Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Royston Nash.- Decca : 473 635 2.
- Decca.
- 16.
-
Arthur Sullivan
The Long Day Closes
Choir: The King’s Singers.- SIGNUM : SIGCD-147.
- SIGNUM.
- 19.
-
Arthur Sullivan
The Gondoliers (We're called gondolieri)
Singer: Thomas Round. Singer: Alan Styler. Orchestra: New Symphony Orchestra of London. Conductor: Isidore Godfrey.- Decca : 473 632 2.
- Decca.
- 7.
-
Arthur Sullivan
The Gondoliers (In enterprise of martial kind)
Singer: Jennifer Toye. Singer: Gillian Knight. Singer: Jeffrey Skitch. Singer: John Reed. Orchestra: New Symphony Orchestra of London. Conductor: Isidore Godfrey.- Decca : 473 632 2.
- Decca.
- 12.
-
Arthur Sullivan
The Gondoliers (Take a pair of sparkling eyes)
Singer: Thomas Round. Orchestra: New Symphony Orchestra of London. Conductor: Isidore Godfrey.- Decca : 473 632 2.
- Decca.
- 9.
-
Arthur Sullivan
The Gondoliers (Dance a cachucha, fandango, bolero)
Choir: The D’Oyly Carte Opera Company. Orchestra: New Symphony Orchestra of London. Conductor: Isidore Godfrey.- Decca : 473 632 2.
- Decca.
- 12.
Broadcast
- Fri 14 Apr 2023 12:00Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 3
Vaughan Williams Today
Beethoven Unleashed – the box set
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Composers A to Z
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time – why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.