Gilbert & Sullivan: The Mikado / Trial By Jury

Performed 300 times in its first two years, Trial by Jury was an acclaimed success that cemented the symbiotic relationship between composer and librettist. This 1974 recording, part of the D'Oyly Carte's last cycle of Savoy Operas for Decca, was released the following year in a busy season celebrating the centenary of the work's first performance and the foundation of the company. As with its 1963 predecessor, most of the principal roles in this Trial recording are taken by the company's leading lights - notably star patter-man John Reed, on sparkling form as the Judge - rather than the artists who routinely played them on stage.

Mikado (recorded 1957) Trail By Jury (recorded 1974)

The Mikado
Donald Adams (The Mikado), Thomas Round (Nanki-Poo), Peter Pratt (Ko-Ko), Kenneth Sandford (Pooh-Bah), Alan Styler (Pish-Tush), Jean Hindmarsh (Yum-Yum), Beryl Dixon (Pitti-Sing), Jennifer Toye (Peep-Bo) & Ann Drummond-Grant (Katisha)
New Symphony Orchestra of London, Isidore Godfrey

Trial by Jury
Julia Goss (The Plaintiff), Colin Wright (The Defendant), Michael Rayner (Counsel for the Plaintiff), John Reed (The Learned Judge), Kenneth Sandford (Usher) & John Ayldon (Foreman of the Jury
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royston Nash

" In 1957, D'Oyly Carte began a new series of recordings to take advantage of the stereo technology, even though the recordings they were replacing were but eight years old. Pirates came first, followed by this Mikado the same year. For the first time in history, a D'Oyly Carte recording had outside competition, as Sir Malcom Sargent launched his own series with a Mikado that appeared the same year. This set was originally issued simultaneously in mono and in stereo. It had a long life in the catalog, as D'Oyly Carte would not record The Mikado again until 1973." (Chris Webster)

"By far the best recording of the work ever made. Thomas Round is the greatest Nanki-Poo on record, likewise Donald Adams's Mikado and Kenneth Sandford's Pooh-Bah - the latter in far better voice than the 1973 version." (Mel@Marbecks)