News

The Untold Story of Herbert Sullivan, by Elaine Richardson
14/03/2023

Elaine  Richardson’s new book The Untold Story of Herbert Sullivan, chronicling the life of Sir Arthur Sullivan’s nephew and heir, is now available to purchase directly from the author at elaineatsass@aol.com price £40 + £8 UK first class postage.

Little has been written about Herbert over the years but due to Elaine’s detective work and research she is able to bring his story to us. The book covers Herbert’s life from 1868 until his death in 1928,

Edinburgh Gilbert and Sullivan Society (EDGAS) presents The Yeomen of the Guard: 22-25 Feb 7.30; Sat mat 2.30:  Festival Theatre, Edinburgh. Artistic and Musical Directors are our vice-presidents Alan Borthwick and David Lyle. Box office 0131-529-6000.

Dear Member,

This message is to give you notice of updated arrangements for the Society’s 2022 Annual General Meeting, which, as announced in Magazine 109 (page 3), is to take place at the London Coliseum on Saturday 12 November between that day’s matinée and evening English National Opera performances of The Yeomen of the Guard.

Please note that the meeting will commence at 5.45pm and not 5.30pm as originally announced.

New release – L’île Enchantée
03/02/2022

Dutton Epoch have released the Society’s new recording of Sullivan’s L’île Enchantée which includes world premiere recordings of two movements from the ballet. The CD also includes world premiere recordings of the Procession March, Herman Finck’s arrangement of Day Dreams and a new orchestration of The Sapphire Necklace overture by Robin Gordon-Powell. The BBC Concert Orchestra is conducted John Andrews. The CD is now available from the Society’s shop.

The Society’s First Online Talk
18/10/2021

The Society held its first ever virtual meeting, appropriately enough, on 22 November, the anniversary of Sullivan’s death. Dr. Anne Stanyon‘s talk was entitled Hiding in Plain Sight, or, Seeking the Lost Arthur Sullivan. She says:

Biographies are dangerous things, often falling between hagiography and damnation, inevitably driven by context and the prejudices or sympathies of authorship.

Arthur Sullivan seems to have been the victim of such extremes,

New Sullivan song disc
03/04/2021

The Society’s second set of Sullivan’s songs has just been released by Chandos. The new 2-CD set is available to buy from the Society’s shop. Mary Bevan, Kitty Whately, Ben Johnson, Ashley Riches are accompanied by David Owen Norris. Along with the earlier Chandos album of Sullivan Songs (CHAN 10935(2) ) and recordings by students of the Royal Northern College of Music available here  this completes Norris’ survey of all Sullivan’s songs.

Unheard Songs by Sir Arthur Sullivan
20/11/2020

David Owen Norris accompanies students from the Royal Northern College of Music in performances of thirty-six previously unrecorded songs.  Filmed in Mrs. Gaskell’s Drawing Room, the films which will be available to view here, will be posted half a dozen at a time on Sundays between November 22nd (St. Cecilia’s Day, the day on which Sullivan died in 1900) and Christmas.

The Chandos double CD Sir Arthur Sullivan Songs with Mary Bevan,

Haddon Hall review
19/07/2020

The July issue of Gramophone contained an excellent review of Dutton’s recordings of Haddon Hall, Mr Jericho and Captain Billy, sponsored by the Sir Arthur Sullivan Society.

“for the quality of the performances, as well as the imaginative choice of repertoire, this recording sets a new standard in the presentation of English light opera on disc. More, please! ” (Richard Bratby,

As a consequence of the emergency Covid-19 measures, the 2020 Sullivan Festival was cancelled in March. Full refunds have been sent to all intending participants, and we are grateful to them for their patience and understanding while the refunds have been arranged – a long, drawn-out process, which has made more so by the impact of the virus on those bodies with which the Society has been working.

We have picked up one or two hints that Scottish Opera may be planning to run its 2020 programme in 2021.

We learned late on Tuesday 17th March that Scottish Opera has cancelled all performances of The Gondoliers and projects associated with it – which of course includes Utopia, Limited. Given this decision by Scottish Opera and the dramatic events of recent days the Society has no choice but to cancel the 2020 Sullivan Festival in Glasgow.

We understand that this cancellation will come as hugely disappointing news to our members and others planning on attending the Festival.

Haddon Hall
01/03/2020

We are delighted to announce that the new Dutton Epoch recording of Haddon Hall, sponsored by the Society, is now available. If you have already ordered your copy through the Society it will be dispatched shortly. Copies are also available to order through the Shop.

Arthur Sullivan and Sydney Grundy: Haddon Hall (1892); François Cellier and Harry Greenbank: Captain Billy (1891); Ernest Ford and Harry Greenbank: Mr.

Twenty-fourth Sullivan Festival May 2020
10/01/2020

Following the announcement by Scottish Opera that they have cancelled all performances of The Gondoliers and projects associated with it – which of course includes Utopia, Limited, the Society has no choice but to cancel the Festival. A fuller statement about the cancellation and refunds will follow shortly.

Captain Billy and Mr Jericho on BBC Radio 3
27/12/2019

Following the broadcast of the Society’s new complete Haddon Hall recording with the BBC Concert Orchestra, the two Savoy curtain-raiser that are included in the CD set will also be heard on Radio 3. On 6 January at 3.30 François Cellier’s Captain Billy will be broadcast; the following day at 3.40 Ernest Ford’s Mr Jericho. Eleanor Dennis, Fiona Kimm, Ed Lyon, Ben McAteer, Henry Waddington and the BBC Concert Orchestra are conducted by John Andrews.

Sullivan Part Songs
15/12/2019

Kantos Chamber Choir, conducted by Ellie Slorach, have just released a “beautifully performed and recorded” CD of Sullivan’s complete part songs. Full details and ordering information can be found in the Society’s Shop.

The Society’s new recording of Haddon Hall is due to be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 on Thursday 19th December ahead of its release on the Dutton Vocalion label early next year. The cast, which includes Catherine Carby, Fiona Kimm, Edward Lyon, Donald Maxwell, Ben McAteer, Adrian Thompson, Sarah Tynan, Henry Waddington, the BBC Singers and BBC Concert Orchestra, is conducted by John Andrews.

Also due for broadcast during the week commencing 6th January 2020 are recordings of the two curtain-raisers Captain Billy (François Cellier,

Twenty-fourth Sullivan Festival May 2020
18/09/2019

The Society’s Twenty-fourth Sullivan Festival will be held in Glasgow, 21-23 May 2020, to coincide with Scottish Opera’s new productions of Utopia, Limited and The Gondoliers at the Glasgow Theatre Royal. This will be the first professional Utopia since 2011 and only the third in Britain since 1900. For full details and a booking form visit the Festivals page on our website.

The Light of the World
04/12/2018

This magnificent recording, sponsored by the Sir Arthur Sullivan Society, is the latest in a series of works by Sullivan to be conducted by John Andrews with the BBC Concert Orchestra and includes Ben McAteer singing the rôle of Jesus and Natalya Romaniw as Mary. Read John Andrew’s blog ‘Arthur Sullivan, the serious composer’ here and his interview with Katherine Cooper of Presto Music here.

“The Light of the World .

We are delighted to announce that Dr. Anne Stanyon has accepted a Vice-Presidency of the Society. Her research into Sullivan and the Leeds Festival, for which she has recently been awarded a Doctorate by the University of Leeds, and continuing research into Sullivan’s role as a conductor has been truly groundbreaking.

Haddon Hall, Captain Billy and Mr Jericho will be recorded at Watford Colosseum from 6-11 January 2019. The BBC Concert Orchestra and the BBC Singers will be conducted by John Andrews. Details of soloists will be announced in due course.

Plans are in an advanced stage for a recording of Sullivan’s Ballads to be issued on the Chandos label. The single CD will compliment the 2-CD set of Sullivan’s Songs issued in 2017. More details to follow.

We are delighted to announce that Alan Borthwick and David Lyle have both accepted Vice-Presidency of the Society.

Alfred Cellier’s The Mountebanks (1892), featuring the BBC Singers and the BBC Concert Orchestra, conducted by John Andrews, was recorded at the Watford Colosseum 18-22 January. Issue projected for the end of the year.

The Society’s new 2-CD set of Sullivan’s songs is available to buy, and also to download from the Chandos website here.

Mary Bevan, Ben Johnson, Ashley Riches, David Owen Norris: 46 songs, including the Shakespeare songs and The Window complete.

New recording of The Light of The World
01/04/2017

The Society’s new complete recording of The Light of The World was made at the Watford Colosseum from 21 – 25 April. Natalia Romaniw, Eleanor Dennis, Kitty Whately, Robert Murray, Ben McAteer, Neal Davies, the BBC Symphony Chorus, the Kinder Children’s Choir and the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by John Andrews.