The 1933 HMV Sorcerer [abridged]

Cast
Sir MarmadukeDarrell Fancourt
AlexisDerek Oldham
Dr. DalyLeslie Rands
NotaryStuart Robertson
John Wellington WellsGeorge Baker
Lady SangazureDorothy Gill
AlineMuriel Dickson
Mrs. PartletAnna Bethell
ConstanceAlice Moxon

Conductor: Isidore Godfrey

Recorded in London,
September 12-13, 1933

Pearl GEMM CDS 9025
Pearl GEMM CDS 9025
Sounds on CD VGS 247
Sounds on CD VGS 247 [Cover by Matt Bland]

The Sorcerer is considered one of the lesser G&S operas today, but it was one of the key early works that got the famous partnership off to a strong start. After the unexpected smash-hit success of Trial By Jury in 1875, Gilbert and Sullivan were commissioned to write a full-length comic opera, and The Sorcerer was the result. Had it failed, it is likely the partnership would have ended right there. It was also the first of the full-length operas to be revived (1884), and one of the first to have a second revival (1898).

In the twentieth century, however, the opera gradually declined in popularity. After 1900, it was out of the repertory until 1916. Then, it was performed in all but one season through 1924. After five more years' absence, it was performed intermittently from 1929 to 1934, then twice each in 1938 and 1939. It then completely disappeared from the D'Oyly Carte repertory and did not return again until 1971.

Neither of the two complete recordings (1953 and 1966) was made at a time when the opera was in the repertory. This set, albeit incomplete, was made during the 1933-34 season, when the opera was still active, and it included many of the same cast members as the D'Oyly Carte production of the time. It is thus the only recording that can claim a connection with performers who knew the opera from stage experience. Since this was the Company's first recording of the opera, it is regrettable that the entire work was not recorded. Likely, the raging depression coupled with the opera's relative lack of popularity made a complete set economically infeasible.

This recording marked the end of an era, in that The Sorcerer was the last new opera to be issued on electrical 78RPM records. (Only one other electrical set was made, and that was a remake of The Mikado.) It was also the beginning of an era, in that it was the first G&S recording to be conducted by Isidore Godfrey, who would lead nearly every D'Oyly Carte recording hereafter, through the end of the 1960s.

As shown below, this recording has enjoyed several re-issues, not only because of its historical importance, but also because it's short enough to be a filler item on a two-disc set.

Issue History
DateLabelFormatNumberComments
1933 HMV 78rpm (10") B8054/9 in
Album 193
Manual side couplings
June 1934 RCA Victor 78rpm (10") 4258/63 in
Album C-21
Manual side couplings
4264/9 in
Album AC-21
Slide auto side couplings
1940? HMV 78rpm (10") B7018/23 Drop auto side couplings
1940 RCA Victor 78rpm (10") 5303/8 in
Album DC-21
1981 Arabesque LP 8068-2L with 1929 Pirates
1981? Arabesque Cassette 9068-2L
1982 EMI/World Records LP SHB 75
1986 Arabesque CD Z8068-2
1993 Pearl CD GEMM CDS 9025 with 1926 Mikado
2001 78s 2 CD CD GS19 Also includes 1928 HMV Yeomen
2003 Sounds on CD CD VGS 247 Includes four HMV abridged sets: 1931 Pirates, 1931 Yeomen, 1931 Gondoliers, and 1933 Sorcerer
2003 78s2CD CD GS22 Includes four HMV abridged sets: 1931 Pirates, 1931 Yeomen, 1931 Gondoliers, and 1933 Sorcerer
Recording Details
Side
Nbr
Matrix
Number
SelectionRec.
Date
10B5074-1 Ring forth, ye bells13 Sep 33
20B5078-2 The air is charged with amatory numbers13 Sep 33
30B5069-2 My kindly friends, I thank you for this greeting12 Sep 33
40B5071-1 Welcome joy, adieu to sadness12 Sep 33
50B5068-2 All is prepared for sealing and for signing12 Sep 33
60B5073-1 My name is John Wellington Wells12 Sep 33
70B5075-2 Sprites of earth and air13 Sep 33
80B5070-2 Be happy all—the feast is spread before ye12 Sep 33
90B5079-2 Thou has the power13 Sep 33
100B5076-1 I rejoice that it's decided13 Sep 33
110B5072-1 Oh, I have wrought much evil with my spells12 Sep 33
120B5077-1 Oh, joyous boon! Oh, mad delight!13 Sep 33
Recording Sessions
Side
Nbr
Matrix
Number
SelectionRec.
Date
50B5068-2 All is prepared for sealing and for signing12 Sep 33
30B5069-2 My kindly friends, I thank you for this greeting12 Sep 33
80B5070-2 Be happy all—the feast is spread before ye12 Sep 33
40B5071-1 Welcome joy, adieu to sadness12 Sep 33
110B5072-1 Oh, I have wrought much evil with my spells12 Sep 33
60B5073-1 My name is John Wellington Wells12 Sep 33
10B5074-1 Ring forth, ye bells13 Sep 33
70B5075-2 Sprites of earth and air13 Sep 33
100B5076-1 I rejoice that it's decided13 Sep 33
120B5077-1 Oh, joyous boon! Oh, mad delight!13 Sep 33
20B5078-2 The air is charged with amatory numbers13 Sep 33
90B5079-2 Thou has the power13 Sep 33

Notes:

  1. The table above presents the sides in the order recorded. This is the most straightforward recording schedule for any HMV G&S set of the period. The entire recording was made on two consecutive days, with no make-up session required for retakes, and no published side requiring more than two takes. The only other HMV G&S sets of the period for which this was true were the 1927 Trial by Jury and the 1931 Yeomen.
  2. Side 6 was issued on EMI's A Tribute to George Baker.