Arthur Sullivan

Composers Datebook:  May 13 

Master of the Operetta. Musical Partner of Playwright William Gilbert

Brief biography of British composer Arthur Sullivan, of the Gilbert & Sullivan fame, their "Savoy Operas."  Best known for 'The Mikado'.

Sir Arthur Sullivan (b. London. 13 May 1842 - d. London. 22 November 1900), English composer of the 19^th century, is best known for the series of sparkling and witty comic operettas he wrote in collaboration with librettist Sir William Gilbert. The humorous The Mikado is their most popular. 

Aside from the The Mikado, other popular Gilbert and Sullivan operettas include HMS Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance, Patience, Iolanthe, the Yeomen of the Guard, and The Gondoliers. Together, they produced 13 operettas.

Sullivan was born in London, May 13, 1842. The son of a bandmaster, he was properly trained in the German tradition, won the first Mendelssohn Scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music in London and studied further at the Leipzig Conservatory, where he met Liszt and Grieg, before returning to England as a church organist. He became a professor of Composition ta the Royal Academy.

Prior to his partnership with Gilbert, Sullivan was already composing sacred music, with “Onward, Christian Soldiers” probably the best known. Aside from sacred music, Sullivan also composed serious instrumental music and concert works. Although his compositions were overshadowed by the 19th-century composers like Brahms, Mendelssohn and Schumann, his works were still attractive and crafted professionally.

 

Sullivan much wanted to succeed as a composer of serious music, the oratorio, in particular, but it's his operettas with Gilbert that is well remembered and kept alive. His operatic works, for example, the opera Ivanhoe in 1890, he valued highly.

 

His career focus and direction changed from a significant meeting in 1871 with playwright William Gilbert. The changes also brought Gilbert and Sullivan fame and prominence. Together their team to produced successful operettas known as "Savoy Operas" usually performed at the Savoy Theatre in London's Strand.

Here's a link to the production of The Mikado 1992 Buxton. YouTube, uploaded by Jim Manson. Accessed 13 May 2011. 

One of the highly popular songs from this operetta is "Alone and yet Alive," most disheartening from loss of hope and courage, sung by the character Katisha who mourns her loss. Below, the same despondent song, interpreted by mezzo soprano Jacqueline Dark as Katisha, recorded at State Theatre, Victorian Arts Centre, Melbourne. (YouTube, uploaded by Jacqui Dark. Accessed May 13, 2016.) 

 

 

Sullivan's partnership with Gilbert broke down sometime in 1890, after a quarrel over expenses at the Savoy. During a 'peace conference' at the Savoy Theatre, Gilbert's temper got the better of him: he roared that Carte was exploiting and robbing both himself and Sullivan, turned on Carte and Sullivan, called them blackguards, then stormed out of the meeting. Gilbert and Sullivan, however, reunited in the 1890s for two more operas, but these did not achieve the popularity of their earlier works.

Sullivan's infrequent serious pieces during the 1880s included two cantatas, The Martyr of Antioch and The Golden Legend, his most popular choral work. He also wrote incidental music for West End productions of several Shakespeare plays, and held conducting and academic appointments. Sullivan's only grand opera, Ivanhoe, though initially successful in 1891, has rarely been revived. 

Sullivan continued to compose comic operas with various librettists and wrote other major and minor works. He is regarded as Britain's foremost composer. His comic opera style served as a model for generations of musical theatre composers that followed, and his music is still frequently performed, recorded and pastiched. Arthur Sullivan died at the age of 58, in November 22, 1900, following a heart attack.

Although to this day The Mikado is a universal favourite, it is worth noting that H.M.S. Pinafore opened in London (May 1878) run for 700 consecutive performances. From historical context their light opera paved way to the development of the stage and screen musical age. Sullivan was knighted by Queen Victoria in 1883. 

 

Quoted from Queen Victoria (1819-1901): "You ought to write a grand opera, Sir Arthur, you would do it so well." 

 

Sullivan's Major Works:

 

The Sorcerer, 1877

HMS Pinafore, 1878

The Pirates of Penzance, 1879

Patience, 1881

Iolanthe, 1882

Princess Ida, 1884

The Mikado, 1885

The Yeomen of the Guard, 1888

The Gondoliers, 1889

Photo Credit:

Arthur Sullivan. en.wikipedia.org / Public Domain.

Resources:

 

1. The Grove Dictionary of Music, edited by Stanley Sadie, Macmillan (1994)

2. The Oxford Companion to Music, edited by Alison Latham, OUP (2002)

3. Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org

Note: This piece was originally published for Suite101.com,  January 13, 2008. This is an abridged version. / Tel)

(c) May 2008. Updated Mary 13, 2021. Tel. Inspired Pen Web.  All rights reserved.