Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11608 in DVD
• Released on: 2002-12-01
• Rating: Exempt
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1

Special Features
English
Region 0
Cast Profiles
Profiles Of WS Gilbert And Sir Arthur Sullivan
Chapter Access By Songs
Mikado Culture Menu

Synopsis
A production of The Mikado with the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra conducted by Isidore Godfrey.

Customer Reviews

Marvellous record
I have to say it is a disappointing transfer. It looks like a straight copy from a VHS tape - but probably isn't. There seems to have been no attempt to restore the master, and the whole thing looks quite deteriorated, and full of artefacts. The ABC have recently issued the Australian Ballet film of Don Quixote from the 1970's and they detail a lot of restoration which had to be done. Apparently, it was saved in the nick of time, just like the masters of "My Fair Lady". That hasn't happened here. It is comforting that as it is now on DVD some sort of permanence (100 years they say) has been assured. However, if this vital part of the D'Oyly Carte history is not restored and better preserved then we shall all be the sorrier.

The box contains no information as to the aspect ratio or to the sound. It appears to be about 1.77:1 but is not enhanced for 16:9 widescreen TV's. The sound, although coming from 2 channels sounds mono to me.

That's all the down sides. The up sides is that it is good to see it again in widescreen without the clipping required for 4:3 transfers. One gets the whole picture. It's faults as a record of the D'Oyly Carte have been well documented, however I feel it stands head and shoulders above the competition on DVD available in Region 1: The 1939 film with Martyn Green, the Australian Opera and the Stratford (gasp) versions.

It is a dream cast in many respects: Donald Adams, Valerie Masterson, Philip Potter, John Reed, Kenneth Sanford and the delectable Peggy Ann Jones - who could wish for more? Thomas Lawler, Christene Palmer and Pauline Wales are also terrific. The main fault is in the direction and concept. It is neither fish nor foul. It is neither live performance (like the AO or Canadian ones) or re-thought for film (like the 1939). It would have been better had the performers been allowed to do exactly what they did on stage, and with a live audience. There are some phoney contrivances (like Pooh Bah talking to Pish Tush) just for the camera. However, dear John Reed as Ko Ko appears to be the least constrained by the medium. His performance is a comic delight.

Worth supporting and worth getting, despite the negatives.

Pure Gilbert & Sullivan ... pure delight!
I have been a lover of the light operas of Gilbert & Sullivan for many years, and this filmed stage production of the best of those light operas is as close as one could come to being there and yet not be there! This production stars the D'Oyly Carte Light Opera Company towards the end of their greatest years but still starring some of the greatest members of that Company's history! John Reed as "Ko-Ko", the hapless Lord High Executioner, is a joy to both see and listen to; Kenneth Sandford as the Lord High Everything Else "Pooh-Bah" is perfect in the role that might have been made for him; Donald Adams is the ultimate Mikado, especially in his signature song "My Object All Sublime"; Philip Potter is a marvelous "Nanki-Poo"; and Valerie Masterson is as charming, demure and beautiful a "Yum-Yum" as one could wish, especially in performing "The Sun Whose Rays", one of the most beautiful songs Gilbert & Sllivan ever wrote. The sets and costumes for this filmed stage production are as historically accurate as a purist could ever wish for, and not a single line of dialogue is changed, altered, or updated (another joy for G&S purists).

If you're just starting to learn about Gilbert & Sullivan, this is the very (indeed ONLY!!!) video to start off with. A must for any lover of G&S, of light opera, of true theatre, or for a truly classic video collection!

The best Mikado version I have seen
If you only buy one Gilbert and Sullivan DVD then get this one. It is in my opinion the best version of the Mikado, being by the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company itself performed in 1966. It is, as far as I can gather, the only one on DVD of the Company. I would love to get more of them. Not quite DVD quality as it must have been converted from film recorded at the time, but no regrets at buying this.