“The Mikado” and “Patience”
	Sunday, 22nd June 2014, 7:30 pm
	The Middleton Arena, Middleton
	(map)
	Donald Maxwell – Bass and Narrator

Once again we present a double bill of highlights from two of Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic presented and narrated by Donald Maxwell with a cast of G&S specialist soloists.  This will be our fourth concert in this format and all the others have been very successful and well-received.

Gilbert is said to have got his inspiration for Mikado in 1884 when a Japanese sword fell off his wall.  In any case Sullivan liked the idea, the famous partnership, which had been faltering, was revived and their most successful opera was the result.  Gilbert used the Japanese context to disguise his satirical lampooning of British institutions and personalities.  The story is charming, the characters memorable and the music is delightful.

Patience was the first production in Richard D’Oyly Carte’s new Savoy Theatre in 1881, the first in the world to be lit entirely by electric light.  It satirises the English aesthetic movement with two diletante poets competing (mostly successfully) for the affections of a chorus of love-sick maidens with a rough and ready company of Dragoons.  Gilbert’s wit is at its sharpest and there are some wonderful tunes.

In August 2009 Patience was chosen for a semi-staged performance at the Proms, conducted by Charles Mackerras.  Donald Maxwell took the part of Colonel Calverley as he will do in our performance.

Sarah Helsby-Hughes	Soprano	Yum-Yum, Patience
Kathleen Wilkinson	Mezzo	Katisha, Lady Jane, Lady Saphir
Joan Rawstron	Mezzo	Pitti-Sing, Lady Angela
Nick Sales	Tenor	Nanki-Poo, Grosvenor, Duke of Dunstable
Philip Hindle	Tenor	Koko, Bunthorne
Jeffrey Lawton	Tenor	Major Murgatroyd
Donald Maxwell	Bass	Poo-Bah, Mikado, Colonel Calverley
Orchestra	National Festival Orchestra
Conductor	Nigel Wilkinson

Tickets at £12 (schoolchildren £1) will be available from:

– Our ticket secretary on 01457 875 221

– The Arena Box Office on 0844 855 4020