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CD Review
Gilbert & Sullivan
Ruddigore
Cox and Box
- Ruddigore (or The Witch's Curse)
- Cox and Box (or The Long-lost Brothers) *
John Reed, Thomas Round, Kenneth Sandford
Stanley Riley, Donald Adams, Jean Hindmarsh
The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden/Isidore Godfrey
Alan Styler
* Joseph Riordan, Donald Adams
* New Symphony Orchestra of London/Isidore Godfrey
Decca 473656-2 2CDs 117m ADD
Set in Cornwall at the turn of the 19th century, Ruddigore is one of those classic British operettas that makes your heart warm immediately to it.
The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company show that they are top notch in such repertoire and the inspired direction of the legendary Isidore Godfrey really brings swagger and character to the proceedings.
The rousing Overture is obviously the work's most famous piece but 'Ruddigore' is dotted with memorable tunes and beautiful ensembles that really come alive in this magnificenbt Decca recording.
I was not so keen on the accompanying 'Cox and Box' but can safely say that this classic 1961 version easily supplants Divine Art's slimmed down offering of the same work that has had no success at all.
Notes are limited to the usual synopsis and there are no texts but the original artwork has been reproduced as is the norm in this collection.
Copyright © 2003, Gerald Fenech
