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 ...

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.

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,

Forthcoming Events

The Manchester Beethoven Orchestra

The Manchester Beethoven Orchestra presents Sullivan’s Irish Symphony at Holy Innocents church, Fallowfield, Manchester on 31 January 2026 at 7.30. Conductor Frank Lennon. Programme also includes Holst’s Somerset Rhapsody and Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1. https://www.beethovenorchestra.co.uk/

Charles Court Opera

Charles Court Opera presents Iolanthe at Wilton’s Music Hall, London: 17 – 28 Feb (not Sun 22) at 7pm; also 21/28 Feb 2pm. Director John Savournin; Musical Director David Eaton. www.wiltons.org.uk.

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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