Recordings of The Pirates of Penzance

None of the three vintage recordings of Pirates is fully satisfactory. Both the 1921 and 1929 sets have non-D'Oyly Carte performers in numerous roles, while the 1931 set is abridged. Of the more recent recordings, 1968 D'Oyly Carte (a vivid performance with complete dialogue) and 1993 Mackerras (musically superb and complete except for the overture) share highest honors.

NR 1920 HMV Acou 78 CD
*** 1929 D'Oyly Carte Elec 78 LP Cass CD
NR 1931 D'Oyly Carte Elec Abrg 78 LP Cass CD
NR 1932 Civic Light Opera of NY Elec
1931 LP
1931 LP
NR 1939 NBC TV Broadcast Abrg TV
* 1949 D'Oyly Carte Mono 78 45 LP Cass CD
**** 1957 D'Oyly Carte Ster 45 reel CD
*** 1961 Sargent/EMI Ster LPCassCD
*** 1962 World Record Club Mono Hlts LPCassCD
NR 1964 National Musicale Company Mono Hlts LP Cass
NR 196-? Rondo Ster Hlts LP
NR 1966 BBC Dial Radio
NR 1966 Michael Sammes Singers Ster Hlts LP
* 1966 RCA Ster LPCD
***** 1968 D'Oyly Carte Ster Dial LP reel Cass CD
NR 1968 Die Piraten Ster CD
NR 1970s New-Pop Rock Ster LP
* 1972 G&S For All Ster Abrg LP Cass Film TV VCass CD
NR 1979 Esperanto Abrg Cass
***** 1981 Papp's Pirates (Recording) Ster Bonus LP Cass CD
*** 1982 The Pirate Movie   LP Cass Film VCass DVD
*** 1982 Brent Walker Productions Dial TV VCass LD DVD
** 1983 Papp's Pirates (Movie) Dial Bonus Film VCass LD DVD
NR 1985 Stratford Festival Video VCass DVD
NR 1986 New Zealand Ster Hlts LP
NR 1986 Univ. of Michigan Ster Dial LPCD
NR 1989 BBC Ster Dial Radio
*** 1990 New D'Oyly Carte Dig CassCD
**** 1993 Mackerras/Telarc Dig CassCD
**** 1994 Essgee Entertainment Dig Dial CD VCass DVD
NR 2002 Di Yam Gazlonim [Yiddish Version] Dig CD
NR 2006 Opera Australia Dig Dial DVD Blu-Ray