Gilbert & Sullivan H.M.S. Pinafore D'Oyly Carte Opera Box Set (2) w/booklet (1959) Vintage Vinyl 12"

This 1959 D'Oyly Carte Opera Company stereo recording is the first with John Reed, who plays the Right Honourable Joseph Porter, K.C.G. with the straightforwardness appropriate to the importance of the ruler of the Queen's Navy. It is also the first the company recorded with complete dialog included, as performed on-stage, which actually gives you a fuller picture of the characterizations. (If you only want to hear the music, you're out of luck: the dialog is always on the track with the music that precedes it.) Gillian Knight is Buttercup, Jean Hindmarsh is Josephine, Thomas Round is Ralph, and Jeffrey Skitch is Captain Corcoran. Dick Deadeye, sung by Donald Adams, is decidedly (and delightfully) more pirate than royal navy. This skilled, veteran cast and the New Symphony Orchestra of London are all conducted by Isidore Godfrey, the company's longtime music director. The excellent performance certainly reflects the English essence of the work. As for the sound quality, it is also very good. Despite Pinafore's being recorded as it was performed on-stage (without audience), there seem to have been enough microphones to pick up all the voices, all the time. Overall, this is one of the best recordings of H.M.S. Pinafore, and certainly one of the best stereo recordings made by the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company.

CONDITION
Picture & lyrics inner sleeve look good, vinyl is clean, cover has some shelf and corner wear.

Please note that the cover may have some wear that is not highlighted in the description.
Please check the pictures carefully for edges, corners, ring wear, tears or anything else that might be of concern to you.

We don't CLEAN or PLAY the Records before listing them, Grading is done on a visual level only if at all, I am not comfortable putting a grade on, as it is ALWAYS subject to personal interpretation.

If there are defects I will do my best to bring them to your attention.

Overall I'd give it a B.

TRACK LISTING
Overture - Act 1 - Part 1
We Sail The Ocean Blue
I'm Called Little Buttercup
The Nightingale Sighed
A Maiden Fair To See
I Am The Captain Of The Pinafore
Sorry Her Lot Who Loves Too Well
Act 1 - Part 2
Over The Bright Blue Sea
Sir Joseph's Barge Is Seen
I Am The Monarch Of The Sea
When I Was A Lad I Served A Term
A British Tar Is A Soaring Soul
Refrain, Audacious Tar
Act 1 [Conc]
Can I Survive This Overbearing?
Ah! Stay Your Hand!
Oh Joy, Oh Rapture Unforeseen
This Very Night
Entr'acte
Act II - Part 1
Fair Moon To Thee I Sing
Things Are Seldom What They Seem
The Hours Creep On Space
Act 2 [Conc]
Never Mind The Why And Wherefore
Kind Captain, I've Important Information
Carefully On TipToe Stealing
He Is An Englishman
Farewell My Own
A Many Years Ago
Oh Joy, Oh Rapture Unforeseen

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