Experience the best of Gilbert and Sullivan

On 24 November 2008, SonyBMG release ‘The Best Of Gilbert And Sullivan’ by The Gala Ensemble, 15 classic, memorable songs including ‘Three Little Maids From School Are We’, ‘Modern Major General’ and ‘When I was A Lad’ written and composed by one of the greatest British song writing partnerships in history.

Bucking the trend, a major label has, for the first time in over 25 years, signed a theatrical quintet, The Gala Ensemble, with the express intention of exclusively performing the repertoire of Gilbert and Sullivan. The deal will see songs from Pirates Of Penzance, The Mikado and H.M.S. Pinafore, to name just a few Gilbert and Sullivan’s famous comic operas, not only receive a fresh and uplifting new recording by Gala Ensemble, but also the full backing and national promotion by SonyBMG.

Over the past quarter century the works of Gilbert and Sullivan have fallen out of favour due to the fickle whims of fashion, but this year a resurgence of Gilbert and Sullivan has become evident. Celebrity participation has led the field with Jo Brand, Alistair McGowan and Jonathan Ansell all taking on key roles in Gilbert and Sullivan productions, whilst the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival in Buxton, Derbyshire has continued to cultivate the loyal G&S fanbase and celebrated its 15th and most successful year this year.

Recognising this revival SonyBMG took the unprecedented move of asking musical director Marcus Marriot to find and nurture a quintet dedicated to performing Gilbert and Sullivan classics for a major label release. The result is the Gala Ensemble, five unique individuals with stunning voices and a passion for performing Gilbert and Sullivan.

Richard Hinkley of SonyBMG said, “For music that’s been loved and performed for over 100 years, there’s something incredibly refreshing about Gilbert and Sullivan. It stands so distinctly apart from conventional classical music, opera and pop and I think that explains not just its enduring popularity, but its recent resurgence. We feel the time is now right to restore this music to its rightful place – thrilling large numbers of people.”

‘The Best Of Gilbert and Sullivan’, the debut album, from The Gala Ensemble features music that was written and composed for the masses, great opera tunes in English that are not only easily accessible but also satirical and recognised everywhere. There’s nothing else like it and it’s time to celebrate the best of British comic opera again.

Full tracklisting:

Modern Major General (The Pirates Of Penzance)
Three Little Maids From School Are We (The Mikado)
Poor Wand’ring One (The Pirates Of Penzance)
A Policeman’s Lot Is Not A Happy One (The Pirates Of Penzance)
When I Was A Lad (H.M.S. Pinafore)
The Sun Whose Rays Are All Ablaze (The Mikado)
We Sail The Ocean Blue (H.M.S. Pinafore)
When You Had Left Our Pirate Fold (The Pirates Of Penzance)
Away, Away (The Pirates Of Penzance)
Gentleman Of Japan (The Mikado)
Oh, Is There Not One Maiden Breast (The Pirates Of Penzance)
My Eyes Are Fully Open (Ruddigore)
Take A Pair Of Sparkling Eyes (The Gondoliers)
Try We Life Long (The Gondoliers)
Alone And Yet Alive (The Mikado)


THE GALA ENSEMBLE IS:
Sally Johnson (Soprano), Elinor Moran (Soprano), Hannah Pedley (Mezzo Soprano), Jonathan Prentice (Baratone) and Richard Knight (Tenor). The Gala Ensemble’s musical director is Marcus Marriot.

THE BEST OF GILBERT AND SULLIVAN BY THE GALA ENSEMBLE is released on 24 November 2008 on SonyBMG.

For further information and regular news updates on The Gala Ensemble, go to: bestofgilbertandsullivan.com.