Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8042 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-05-02
• Rating: Exempt
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Classical, PAL
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 130 minutes

Customer Reviews

Outstanding Gilbert & Sullivan
I have seen many versions of HMS Pinafore and even those performed by the famous D'oly Cart company, but this Opera Australia DVD is the very best that I have ever seen. The whole production has been carefully directed to make it a totally enjoyable viewing experience. The principal cast members have voices which are rarely heard in the modern theatre. I would highly recomment this version to anyone who likes G&S, but to those who do not know if their work, this will be a delightful way to get to know it.

Contrast
Terrific pairing of a pretty "straight" interpretation of Pinafore combined with a rip-roaring version of Trial. In Pinafore the production evokes a romatic Victorian naval idyll with impossibly clean and worthy ships and sailors, a sweet and proper heroine and appropriately brave and dutiful captains and sailors - with a delightful monarch of the sea! In the latter, the protagonists are portrayed as warring celebrities, complete with adoring fans and paparazzi. Highly entertaining character acting from all the stars,lovely singing and chorus work. All look as if they are having an exceedingly good time, which is as it should be. Astonishingly chameleon-like transformations from the major stars as they change from one performance to the other.

G & S performances at their best!
Opera Australia has excelled itself with HMS Pinafore and Trial by Jury. Conductor Andrew Greene, Director Stuart Maunder, Designer Roger Kirk, Lighting Designer Trudy Dalgleish and Choreographer Elizabeth Hill have made this an audio and visual treat.
Equally excellent are the fantastic performances by the Cast and Chorus, from the inspired choice of Colette Mann as "Little Buttercup", the brilliant and versatile Anthony Warlow as "Capt Corcoran" and the "Learned Judge", non better than the lovely Tiffany Speight and the talented David Hobson "as the "Merry Maiden and the Tar", to John Bolton Wood's "Sir Joseph Porter", Richard Alexander's "Dick Deadeye", Andrew Jones, Jerzy Kozlowski and Roxane Hislop as Cousin Hebe.
Ali McGregor is wonderful as "Angelina" in Trial by Jury with David Hobson as "Edwin". The Learned Judge steals the show aided abetted by a jury of ex-sailors, and a public of journalists (ex-sisters, ex-cousins and ex-aunts). The Usher and Counsel seem familiar too! Watch this again and again to see the little expressions and sideshows of the Chorus.
Verdict:- Unbeatable!