The Pirates of Penzance

or the Slave of Duty

From ChatGPT

"The Pirates of Penzance" is a comic opera by Gilbert and Sullivan, with a libretto by W.S. Gilbert and music by Arthur Sullivan. It premiered in New York City in 1879 and quickly became one of the most popular works by the renowned duo. The story of "The Pirates of Penzance" follows Frederic, a young man who was mistakenly apprenticed to a band of pirates by his nursemaid, Ruth, when he was a child. As Frederic reaches his 21st birthday, he decides to leave the pirates and lead a law-abiding life. However, he soon encounters a bevy of amusing characters, including the Pirate King, the Major-General, and a group of beautiful daughters. Love, duty, and mistaken identities intertwine as Frederic tries to navigate his new life and reconcile his feelings for Mabel, the daughter of the Major-General. "The Pirates of Penzance" was initially presented in the United States before its London premiere, as Gilbert and Sullivan wanted to secure copyright protection for their work. The American production was a great success, receiving critical acclaim and establishing the popularity of the operetta. The operetta's unique blend of witty dialogue, catchy melodies, and humorous plot elements contributed to its enduring success. Notable songs from "The Pirates of Penzance" include "I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General," "Poor Wand'ring One," and "With Cat-Like Tread." These songs have become iconic and are frequently performed in concerts and revivals. "The Pirates of Penzance" has seen numerous revivals and adaptations over the years. It has been performed in opera houses, theaters, and schools around the world. Several film and television adaptations have also been made, including a well-known 1983 film version featuring Kevin Kline, Angela Lansbury, and Linda Ronstadt. The operetta's enduring popularity is a testament to the timeless appeal of Gilbert and Sullivan's witty writing and Sullivan's melodic compositions. "The Pirates of Penzance" continues to entertain audiences with its humor, catchy tunes, and delightful characters, firmly securing its place as one of the most beloved works in the operetta genre.}

More

Authors

Original Authors

...
Book & Lyrics
...
Music

Later Contributors

There are no known writers who contributed to revisions, etc. following the original production.
Genre: Operetta

Production Highlights

See full list

Studio Cast Recordings

Recordings listed here were done in the studio specifically to release as recordings. They do not represent cast recordings of a particular production.

  • Studio Cast (1929)
    George Baker , Peter Dawson , Stuart Robertson , Derek Oldham , Leo Sheffield
  • Studio Cast (1958)
    Donald Adams , Jean Hindmarsh , Thomas Round , Ann Drummond-Grant , Peter Pratt
  • Studio Cast (1991)
    Marilyn Hill Smith , Malcolm Rivers , Eric Roberts (i) , Philip Creasy , Susan Gorton

Demos & Pre-Production Recordings

  • No demo recordings listed yet.

From ChatGPT

"The Pirates of Penzance" is a comic opera by Gilbert and Sullivan, with a libretto by W.S. Gilbert and music by Arthur Sullivan. It premiered in New York City in 1879 and quickly became one of the most popular works by the renowned duo. The story of "The Pirates of Penzance" follows Frederic, a young man who was mistakenly apprenticed to a band of pirates by his nursemaid, Ruth, when he was a child. As Frederic reaches his 21st birthday, he decides to leave the pirates and lead a law-abiding life. However, he soon encounters a bevy of amusing characters, including the Pirate King, the Major-General, and a group of beautiful daughters. Love, duty, and mistaken identities intertwine as Frederic tries to navigate his new life and reconcile his feelings for Mabel, the daughter of the Major-General. "The Pirates of Penzance" was initially presented in the United States before its London premiere, as Gilbert and Sullivan wanted to secure copyright protection for their work. The American production was a great success, receiving critical acclaim and establishing the popularity of the operetta. The operetta's unique blend of witty dialogue, catchy melodies, and humorous plot elements contributed to its enduring success. Notable songs from "The Pirates of Penzance" include "I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General," "Poor Wand'ring One," and "With Cat-Like Tread." These songs have become iconic and are frequently performed in concerts and revivals. "The Pirates of Penzance" has seen numerous revivals and adaptations over the years. It has been performed in opera houses, theaters, and schools around the world. Several film and television adaptations have also been made, including a well-known 1983 film version featuring Kevin Kline, Angela Lansbury, and Linda Ronstadt. The operetta's enduring popularity is a testament to the timeless appeal of Gilbert and Sullivan's witty writing and Sullivan's melodic compositions. "The Pirates of Penzance" continues to entertain audiences with its humor, catchy tunes, and delightful characters, firmly securing its place as one of the most beloved works in the operetta genre.}

More

Authors

Original Authors

...
Book & Lyrics
...
Music

Later Contributors

There are no known writers who contributed to revisions, etc. following the original production.
Genre: Operetta

Source

No source listed.

Synopsis

Frederic was as a child apprenticed to a band of tenderhearted, orphaned pirates by his nurse who, being hard of hearing, had mistaken her master's instructions to apprentice the boy to a pilot. Frederic, upon completing his 21st year, rejoices that he has fulfilled his indentures and is now free to return to respectable society. But it turns out that he was born on February 29 in leap year, and he remains apprenticed to the pirates until his 21st birthday. By the end of the opera, the pirates, a Major General who knows nothing of military strategy, his large family of beautiful but unwed daugters, and the timid constabulary all contribute to a cacophony that can be silenced only by Queen Victoria's name.

Trivia & History

No trivia or history.

Other Titles

  • Di Yam Gazlonim (revival title)
  • Pirates! (revival title)
  • The Pirates of Penzance or The Slave of Duty (full title)

Audio Clips

No audio yet.

Copyright ©2025 ovrtur.com
Change Log | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Contact Us