Gilbert & Sullivan – The Sorcerer

Eager to capitalize on the 1875 success of Trial By Jury, impresario Richard D'Oyly Carte organized the Comedy Opera Company, Ltd., and commissioned Gilbert and Sullivan to write a comic operetta. Drawing upon various sources, Gilbert fashioned a plot dealing with the effects of a love potion on an English village. Though Gilbert finished his libretto by April 1877, Sullivan, despondent over the death of his brother Fred, finished the score barely in time for the mid-November premiere at London's Opera Comique. The Sorcerer, satirizing both Victorian customs and theatrical devices, was a success and ran 175 performances; this was to lead to the next collaboration, H.M.S. Pinafore. Once again, Albany is proud to present another wonderfully sparkling performance by the renowned Ohio Light Opera Company, the first complete CD set incorporating Gilbert's hilarious spoken dialogue. Those who have come to know and love the acclaimed series by this group are in for an absolute treat!