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The elegant Yorkshire spa town of Harrogate will host the 28th edition of its acclaimed festival which celebrates the works of the great English operatic partnership. Productions by international companies of many of Gilbert & Sullivan’s best-loved works are presented in Frank Matcham’s stunning Royal Hall. Our four-night holiday this summer will include four separate productions as part of the Festival, as well as a private talk given by one of the Festival’s trustees, Bernard Lockett, a passionate Gilbert & Sullivan expert who written several books on the subject, and broadcast on BBC Radio and TV. In addition, we will have time to explore Harrogate itself and visit the atmospheric ruins of nearby Fountains Abbey.
...when you travel with Kirker
Andrew Taylor graduated from the University of St Andrew's in 1989 with a degree in Church History. He has a further degree in Classical Studies and a Masters in the History of Art.
His main areas of study were the history and architecture of the English Country House and the arts and architecture of the Gothic Revival. In between, he has practised as a solicitor for twenty years and worked in the antiquarian book business. Andrew's tastes are broad but his particular interests are in landscape painting, church architecture and neo-classicism.
Monday 15 August at 19.30
Brussels Light Opera Company
“Pirates” was premiered at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in New York City in December 1879, before reaching London in April 1880, where it enjoyed no less than 363 performances at the Opéra Comique. It has become one of the most popular Gilbert & Sullivan operas, famous in particular for its brilliant patter song, “I am the very model of a modern Major-General”. The story revolves around Frederic, who, at the age of 21 is released from his pirate apprenticeship before meeting and falling in love with Mabel. The problem, however, arises when he realises that his birthday of 29th of February (during a leap year) means he has to serve the pirates for another 63 years…
Tuesday 16 August at 19.30
Bus Pass Opera
The second opera to premiere at the newly-built Savoy Theatre, in 1884, “Princess Ida” is based on Tennyson's poem “The Princess: A Medley”, and continued the ‘battle of the sexes’ theme seen in “Iolanthe”. The only Gilbert and Sullivan work with dialogue entirely in blank verse, it was initially a relative flop by the pair’s standards, but the music has since found great affection, in particular the "string of pearls” sequence of songs in Act 2.
Wednesday 17 August at 19.30
National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company
Perhaps the most celebrated work in the G&S repertoire, “HMS Pinafore” (1878) is a brilliant satire on the British class system, and pokes good-natured fun at British politics and blind patriotism. It was the duo’s first international success with the Captain’s catchphrase “What never? Well, hardly ever!” sweeping both Britain and America. This production will be conducted by John Andrews whose career has taken him to The Grange Festival, Opera Holland Park, English Touring Opera, Garsington Opera, Opera de Baugé, the Volkstheater Rostock, and most recently to the Buxton International Festival in 2021.
Thursday 18 August at 19.30
Savoynet
Also known as “The Statutory Duel”, “The Grand Duke” was the final opera written by Gilbert & Sullivan, after which they never worked together again. It was premiered at the Savoy Theatre on 7 March 1896 but ran for a relatively small 123 performances, but has since been celebrated for its hilarious and satirical libretto and some of Sullivan’s most colourful music, including his quite brilliant parodies of Viennese waltzes. Set in the fictional Grand Duchy of Pfennig-Halbpfennig in 1750, the plot returns to the theme of their very first collaboration “Thespis”, in which a group of actors seizes power. And it’s surely the only opera to feature sausage rolls…
Tour Leader
Andrew Taylor graduated from the University of St Andrew's in 1989 with a degree in Church History. He has a further degree in Classical Studies and a Masters in the History of Art.
His main areas of study were the history and architecture of the English Country House and the arts and architecture of the Gothic Revival. In between, he has practised as a solicitor for twenty years and worked in the antiquarian book business. Andrew's tastes are broad but his particular interests are in landscape painting, church architecture and neo-classicism.
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