Gilbert & Sullivan: H.M.S. Pinafore

The Gilbert and Sullivan operetta has such a clear and distinct style that one can almost decide without ever hearing the music itself whether or not it is likable. Gondoliers, as a typical example of a Gilbert and Sullivan score, is much like that. The giddy bounciness and good-natured plot strikes some as enjoyable and endearing, while to others, it is merely trite and old fashioned. Those who care for the Gilbert and Sullivan style will be quite fond of Gondoliers, a comic opera where the music is strong but the plot is weak. The title song is particularly notable — a fantastically energetic piece. There are other great songs as well, such as "Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes." This recording from the early 1990s is a fine working of this shiny score, running 109 minutes. For fans of this genre, this is a requisite for any collection.