Sullivan

Welcome to the website of the

Sir Arthur Sullivan Society

The Society aims to promote and generate interest in the music of Sir Arthur Sullivan through recordings, publications, festivals and the Society's magazine. We hope you find everything you need to know about Sullivan and the Society on this website including:

  • Society membership
  • up to date news of forthcoming performances and other events
  • music available for free download or hire
  • the Society's Shop selling recordings and books

and much more ...

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Sir Arthur Sullivan

Born in London in 1842, Arthur Sullivan trained at the Chapel Royal, the Royal Academy of Music and the Leipzig Conservatoire. His incidental music to Shakespeare’s The Tempest made him an overnight celebrity when it was performed at the Crystal Palace in 1862. He went on to compose in practically every musical genre: oratorio, cantata, symphony, concerto, ceremonial works, incidental music for the stage, piano and chamber works, songs, partsongs, hymns and anthems.
His celebrated collaboration with W. S. Gilbert produced fourteen operas, including H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado, between 1871 and 1896. There were also ten operas with other librettists. Incomparably the greatest British musician of the nineteenth century, Sullivan held honorary doctorates from both Oxford and Cambridge, was knighted in 1883 and died in London in 1900.

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News

The Martyr of Antioch and Sullivan Bust

The Martyr of Antioch
Recording sessions for the Society’s new recording of The Martyr of Antioch will take place at the Watford Colosseum in March 2026. Soloists include Anush Hovhannisyan, Kitty Whately, David Butt Philip, Ban McAteer and Darren Jeffrey. The BBC Symphony Chorus and BBC Concert Orchestra will be conducted by John Andrews.

Donations towards the cost of the recording of any size are most welcome. Donations of £500 and above will receive a copy of the recording when issued,

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Forthcoming Events

Burnley Orchestra

The Burnley Orchestra conducted by Nathan Smith, present the Irish Symphony in St. Peter’s church, Burnley, on 14 March at 7pm.  www.burnleyorchestra.org.uk

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Tea for Two

A recital of songs presented by Caroline Taylor (soprano), with George Ireland (piano), at St Columba’s Church, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 0BD on Sunday 15 March 2026, 1.30pm. Caroline and George begin their journey of recording a debut duo album sponsored by Musica Britannica. Tea for Two marks the coming of spring with English song from Musica Britannica’s Vol. 56, including works by Arthur Sullivan and Liza Lehmann and previously unrecorded works by Maude Valérie White and Hamish MacCunn.

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Featured Product

L’île Enchantée

Sullivan: L’île Enchantée: ballet in one act (1864) includes world premiere recordings of two of the movements

Sullivan: Procession March (1863) world premiere recording

Sullivan: Day Dreams (1867) orchestrated by Herman Finck (1934); arranged by Robin Gordon-Powell (2011) world premiere recording of this arrangement

Sullivan: The Sapphire Necklace – Overture (1863-64) orchestrated by Robin Gordon-Powell (2020) world premiere recording of this orchestration

BBC Concert Orchestra; John Andrews (conductor).

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