Naxos will release a "World Premiere Recording" of Sullivan's one-act ballet "Victoria & Merrie England". According to the back cover, it was composed in 1897, for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. RTÉ Sinfonietta, Andrew Penny. 3 Dec at Amazon USA & UK, & Presto.
(actually, just as I write this, I see this is another Naxos re-release of a previous Marco Polo recording, from 1995. Perhaps takes the "World Premiere Recording" bloom off the rose a little ::))
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9257541--sir-arthur-sullivan-victoria-and-merrie-england-complete-ballet (https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9257541--sir-arthur-sullivan-victoria-and-merrie-england-complete-ballet)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sullivan-Merrie-England-Sinfonietta-8555216/dp/B09JJC9R91/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=Victoria+%26+Merrie+England&qid=1638050100&qsid=260-9465882-0764903&s=music&sr=1-4&sres=B0045DO8RE%2CB000001RVL%2CB00000462U%2CB09JJC9R91 (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sullivan-Merrie-England-Sinfonietta-8555216/dp/B09JJC9R91/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=Victoria+%26+Merrie+England&qid=1638050100&qsid=260-9465882-0764903&s=music&sr=1-4&sres=B0045DO8RE%2CB000001RVL%2CB00000462U%2CB09JJC9R91)
https://smile.amazon.com/Victoria-Merrie-England-Sullivan-Sinfonietta/dp/B09JJC9R91/ref=sr_1_107?qid=1638049815&refinements=p_n_date%3A1249114011&rnid=1249111011&s=music&sr=1-107 (https://smile.amazon.com/Victoria-Merrie-England-Sullivan-Sinfonietta/dp/B09JJC9R91/ref=sr_1_107?qid=1638049815&refinements=p_n_date%3A1249114011&rnid=1249111011&s=music&sr=1-107)
Once a world premiere recording always a world premiere recording, surely?
Regardless, it's a fine piece of music. Some great tunes buried in there as one might expect from Sullivan.
Yes its a re release from Marco Polo as Naxos retires the Marco Polo label.
I have listened to extracts from the Auber vol 5, and the original Marco Polo recording of this work. I rather liked the perky,jaunty,Auber extracts, but I can´t say the same for the Sullivan.( And I liked his Enchanted Isle early ballet, out of which he apparently reused some music for this piece d ¨occasion.) I think there is a lack of invention in this 1897 work, a lack of spirit and verve, a bit too broad-brush at times. It was very popular in its time, but then so was Wilson,Keppel,and Betty...........
For the uninitiated, here are Wilson Keppel & Betty (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2fqjsijaMM). Enjoy!
And a little snippet of Luigini there!!
Quotehere are Wilson Keppel & Betty. Enjoy!
Although
not one of the uninitiated, I did enjoy very much. Thank you, Mark.
Thank you so much for liking my new volume in the Auber series! This is a special Volume as it mostly features ballet music! A treat!