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The Sorcerer Click on a photograph to enlarge it. Click here to return to Gallery index

Programme for the 2011–12 (80th) Season Sunday 23rd October 2011 at 2.30 pm “how sweetly he carols forth his melody” Celebrity concert by Joseph Shovelton (tenor) and Ian Townsend (piano). [ Professional engagements permitting.] One not to be missed. Admission: members £5, visitors £7 The Sheila Taylor meeting. Tuesday 1st November 2011 at 7.15 pm “O man of learning!” ‘ Silent Witness; or, Tales of a Musical Detective ’ – talk by Dr David Russell Hulme, conductor, musicologist, expert on Britis h music, well known for his research and publications on Sullivan. The Norman Beckett meeting. Tuesday 6th December 2011 at 7.15 pm “fear nothing, but enjoy yourselves, I pray!” Sing-It-Ourselves Evening – we will celebrate the Festive Season with a Sing-It-Ourselves evening with bring-and-share refreshments. Sunday 8th January 2012 at 3.00 pm “Every journey has an end.” Outing to a semi-staged c oncert at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, – The Pirates of Penzance with Alistair McGowan and several of our G&S favourites. De tails from Jean Dufty. Sunday 5th February 2012 at 2.30 pm “They sing so nicely” Concert by Bridget Budge (contralto) and John Patchett (bass-baritone), accompanied by Jonathan Ellis. [Professional engagements permitting.] Admission: members £5, visitors £7. Tues day 6th March 2012 at 7.15 pm “And now I look more closely at it” Paul Taylor will give us another of his informative study evenings, this time on The Pirates of Penzance . The Harold Sumner meeting. 20th - 22nd April 2012 “And echo forth the joyous sound” Gilbert and Sullivan Society National Convention at The Alma Lodge Hotel, Stockport. Tuesday 1st May 2012 at 7.15 pm “let u s grasp the situation” Annual General Meeting plus entertainment. Review Review

The Sorcerer Click on a photograph to enlarge it. Click here to return to Gallery index

Programme for the 2016–17 (85th) Season Tuesday 4th Octo ber 2016 at 2.30 pm “They sing choruses in public.” Concert by members of Manchester University Gilbert & Sullivan Society (MUGSS). Tuesday 1st November 2016 at 7.15 pm “Rend with songs the air above” Concert by students of the Royal Northern College of Music from Offenbach‘s La Vie Parisienne – a taster of their December production – and a selection of Gilbert & Sullivan items. The Sh eila Taylor meeting. Sunday 4th December 2016 at 2.30 pm “In his own melodious way!” Co ncert by Joseph Sho velton (tenor). [Professional engagements permitting.] The Harold Sumner meeting. Admi ssion: members £5, visitors £7. Sunday 15th January 2017 at 2.30 pm “Is all this true?” “D‘Oyly Carte: the inside story” – Roberta Morrell will enter tain us with background stories from interviews for her book of the same name. Tuesd ay 7th February 2017 at 7.15 pm “It is a pretty picture” A talk by Raymond Walker on D‘Oyly Carte backcloths and scenery through the decades, illustrated by some beautiful photos. He and David Skelly are working on a book on this subject. Tuesday 7th March 2017 at 7.15 pm “Told in ‘song and story’” Paul Taylor will instruct us again with one of his opera studies – The Yeoman of the Guard – this time. The N orman Beckett meeting. Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd April 2017 “And all day long our lives would be a song” Convention for members of all Affiliated G&S Societies at the Alma Lodge Hotel, Stockport. Tuesday 9th May 2017 at 7.15 pm “And now, my Lords, to the business of the day” Annual General Meeting plus entertainment.

Trial by Jury Click on a photograph to enlarge it. Click here to return to Gallery index

Programme for the 2021–22 (90th) Season Sunday 3rd October 2021 at 2.30 pm “Welcome to our hearts again” An interview with our Vice President and G&S maestro, David Steadman, who picks out gems from his fund of stories and may entertain us at the piano. The She ila Taylor meeting. Sunday 7th November 2021 at 2.30 pm “let the air with joy be laden” A conc ert by Matthew Kellett (baritone) accompanied by David Eaton. The Harold Sumner meeting. Admission: members £5, visitors £7. Tuesday 7th December 2021 on Zoom at 7.30 pm “There can be no harm in revelling in the past” Behind the scenes with Michael Heyland, Director of Productions, D‘Oyly Carte Opera Company 1969 to 1978. Tuesday 11th January 2022 on Zoom at 7.30 pm “tell us all about it” Presentation by Jeff Clarke, artistic Director of Opera della Luna, on The New D‘Oyly Carte touring Company of the 1920s. Tuesday 1st February 2022 on Zoom at 7.30 pm “Indeed I am telling the truth” Peggy Ann Jones and Abby Hadfield reminisce about their days in the D‘Oyly Carte in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Sunday 6th March 2022 at 2.30 pm “and now I look more closely at it” ‘The Gondoliers’ – Paul Taylor presents another of his stimulating illustrated talks on the operas and their background story. Th e Norman Beckett meeting. Sunday 3rd April 2022 at 2.30 pm “With choral joy delight the breeze” A concert by Peter Crichton and some friends of his from Crosby G&S Society. Postponed until 11th September 2022. Tuesday 10th May 2022 on Zoom at 7.30 pm “let us grasp the situation” Annual General Meeting plus entertainment. A whole weekend of G&S “can‘t keep it up all day long?” Friday even ing 13th May 2022 to Sunday lunch 15th May. Convention: concerts, talks, friendship and fun at the Alma Lodge Hotel, 149 Buxton Road, Stockport, SK2 6EL.

Rutland Barrington Click on a photograph to enlarge it. Click here to return to Gallery index

Programme for the 2025–26 (94th) Season Sunday 5th October 2025 at 2.30 pm "I have a pretty turn for anecdote" Our President David Mackie will be in conversation with David Walton and will enchant us with some piano music . It is 50 years this year since he joined the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company. The Norman Beckett meeting. Sunday 9th November 2025 at 2.30 pm "let the air with joy be laden" Our member David Goulden has organised a concert for us of professional young singers he taught when they were at school . The Sheila Taylor meeting. Tuesday 2nd December 2025 on Zoom at 7.30 pm "wher ever that isle may be" Andy Hill, the present owner of D’Oyly Carte Island on the Thames, will tell us about restoring the house and his plans for the future. The Harold Sumner meeting. Tuesday 13th January 2026 on Zoom at 7.30 pm "Happy to meet you all once more" Jane Metcalfe, principal mezzo-soprano with the D’Oyly Carte 1975 to 1979, will stroll down memory lane and tell us some of her activities since then. Tuesday 10th February 2026 on Zoom at 7.30 pm "Red and Yellow! Primary Colours! Oh, South Kensington!" Our member Raymond Walker, co-author of the scenic book, Backdrop to a Legend : The Scenic Design of the D‘Oyly Carte Opera Company , full of excellent images of D’Oyly Carte sets, has fresh historic and interesting Savoy photos to show. Sunday 1st March 2026 at 2.30 pm "he'll give you any further information" Our member Paul Taylor will entertain us with another of his popular evenings at an opera, The Mikado this time. Paul investigates the time in which it was written and details of interest about it. Sunday 19th April 2026 at 2.30 pm "with laughing song and merry dance" CELEBRITY CONCERT WITH PHOEBE SMITH. Phoebe studied at the Royal Academy of Music, and performs regularly with the National Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company. Accompanied on the piano by David Wheeler. Admission: members £5, visitors £7. Tuesday 19th May 2026 on Zoom at 7.30 pm "What ought we to do?" Annual General Meeting.

Programme for the 2018–19 (87th) Season Tuesday 2nd October 2018 at 2.30 pm “Youth will have its fling” David Goulden‘s music and drama students will entertain us with a concert. The Harold Sumner meet ing. Sunday 4th November 2018 at 2.30 pm “I am astonished and somewhat terrified” Stephen Turnbull, Secretary of the Sir Arthur Sullivan Society, will play a selection of his G&S recordings – selected for quality or amusement! Sunday 2nd Decem ber 2018 at 2.30 pm “whatever question may arise” Any G&S Questions with bring-and-share food. Sunday 13th January 2019 at 2.30 pm “Rend with songs the air above” Martin Lamb (bass baritone) will entertain us with song and information. He will be accompanied by David Wheeler. The Sheila Taylor meeting. Admission: members £5, visitors £7. Saturday 2nd February 2019 at 2.30 pm “They sing choru ses in public” A concert by New Rosemere Amateur Operatic Society from Bolton. Tuesday 5th March 2019 at 7.15 pm “I can teach you with a quip, if I've a mind” Paul Taylor will entertain and inform us with another of his fascinating presentations, this time on Iolanthe . Illustrated with music and visuals. The N orman Beckett meeting. Tuesday 2nd April 2019 at 7.15 pm “Everything is interesting” David Cookson and Collette Woodhouse will amuse and instruct us about music and other aspects of their work at Harrogate G&S Festivals. Admission: members £5, visitors £7. Tuesday 7th May 2019 at 7.15 pm “In punctual and business-like fashion” Annual General Meeting plus entertainment. Review

The Pirates of Penzance Click on a photograph to enlarge it. Click here to return to Gallery index

Programme for the 2009–10 (78th) Season Tuesday 15th September 2009 at 7.15 pm “I‘m one of the family” An attractive extra meeting: Scott Hayes, Arthur Sullivan‘s great, great nephew, will speak to us again during his visit from the USA. “Uncle Arthur: The California Connection ” Tuesday 8th October 2009 at 7.15 pm “Remarkable people in history” Simon Theobald will present the life of Rutland Barrington, bass-baritone, in the original company, and sing some of the songs first sung by Barrington, accompanied by Andrew Nicklin. The Norman Beckett meeting. Sunday 8th November 2009 at 2.30 pm “a refreshing novelty” Jeff Clarke, originator/MD/producer of Opera della Luna, will speak about creating the Company. [Pr ofessional engagements permitting.] Tuesday 1 December 2009 at 7.15 pm “Ballads, songs and snatches” Celebrity concert by Victoria Byron (mezzo) and Ian Belsey (baritone), accompanied by David Norris. [Professional engagements permitting.] Admission: members £5, visitors £7. The Sheila Taylor meeting. Sunday 10th January 2010 at 2.30 pm “a past-master of that delicately modulated instrument” The Lost Chord Instrumental Ensemble will present a sparkling New Year concert, produced and presented by Christopher Browne. Tuesday 2nd February 2010 at 7.15 pm “and for knowledge if anyone burns” Study evening on The Sorcerer presented by Paul Taylor. March 2010 “who thirst for such instruction as we give” We are arranging a Masterclass for music students in conjunction with well-known G&S conductor, John Owen Edwards. [Professional engagements permitting.] The day-time class and following concert are both to be open for our members to attend. Date and details to follow. The Harold Sumner meeting. Tuesday 6th April 2010 at 7.15 pm “jolly jinks” A DIY evening of fun. Tuesday 4th May 2010 at 7.15 pm “in a contemplative fashion” Annual General Meeting plus entertainment.

Ages Ago Click on a photograph to enlarge it. Click here to return to Gallery index