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Princess Ida Click on a photograph to enlarge it. Click here to return to Gallery index

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

Programme for the 2010–11 (79th) Season Sunday 10th October 2010 at 2.30 pm “he bubbles with wit and good humour!” Celebrity concert b y Simon Butteriss (baritone) who will entertain us in his own inimitable way with song and story, accompanied at the piano by Jeff Clarke. [Professional engagements permitting.] Admissio n: members £5, visitors £7. The Sheila Taylor meeting. Tuesday 2nd November 2010 at 7.15 pm “O man of learning!” ‘S ilent Witness; or, Tales of a Musical Detective’ Talk by Dr David Russell Hulme, conductor, musicologist, expert on British music, well known for his research and publications on Sullivan. Tuesday 7th December 2010 at 7.15 pm “fear nothing, but enjoy yourselves, I pray!” We will celebrate the Festive Season with a Sing-It-Ourselves evening with bring-and-share refreshments. Sunday 16th January 2011 at 2.30 pm “Listen, and I‘ll tell you all about it” Suzanne O‘Keeffe (soprano) will reminisce about her days in the D‘Oyly Carte Opera Company, sing, speak about t eaching singing and demonstrate wit h a mini-Master class for two of her students. The Harold Sumner meeti ng. Tuesday 1st February 2011 at 7.15 pm “I can teach you with a quip, if I‘ve a mind” Lecture/recital by Martin Lamb (bass-baritone). [Professional engagements permitting.] Admission: members and visitors £2. The Norman Beckett meeting. Tuesday 1st March 2011 at 7.15 pm “They charmed our senses with verbal fences, with ballads amatory and declamatory” In studying and comparing two different D‘Oyly Carte recordings of Princess Ida from the 50s and 60s, Great Savoyards will be assessed, and facts about their lives and careers discussed, by John Coates. Tuesday 5th April 2011 at 7.15 pm “And echo forth the joyous sound” Blackburn Gilbert and Sullivan Society will entertain us with a concert, mainly G&S. Tuesday 3rd May 2011 at 7.15 pm “to shirk the task were fiddle-de-dee!” Annual General Meeting plus entertainment. Review Review Review CANCELLED DUE TO ILLNESS: ENTERTAINMENT PROVIDED BY SOCIETY MEMBERS Photos

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

Programme for the 2020–21 (89th) Season THE PROGRAMME FOR THE 2020–21 (89th) SEASON WAS AFFECTED BY THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC. National lockdowns (late March 2020 to June 2020, and January 2021 to July 2021) and local lockdowns (tiers) (September 2020 to November 2020) restricted gatherings and movements of all, but essential, workers. Lockdowns caused the closure of all hospitality venues and non-essential shops, closed schools and encouraged working from home. Consequently, all society meetings during the 89th season were held by Zoom – the first time in the Society's history that Zoom had been used for meetings. Sunday 29th November 2020 on Zoom at 5.00 pm General meeting of the Society. Sunday 17th January 2021 on Zoom at 2.30 pm Ian Bradley will talk about his next book on Sullivan – A Life of Divine Emollient . Sunday 21st February 2021 on Zoom at 2.00 pm Barry Clark to entertain with a talk and music. Sunday 28th March 2021 on Zoom at 2.30 pm "Sullivan’s Drawing-Room Ballads” – a presentation by Professor Derek B. Scott. Tuesday 11th May 2021 on Zoom at 7.30 pm 88th and 89th Annual Meetings.

Contact Us Get in Touch The Gilbert and Sullivan Society, Manchester welcomes your enquiries. For information, please contact, as appropriate, one of the society’s officials... New Members/ Publicity Officer Secretary Treasurer PAUL TAYLOR email: enquiries@manchestergands.org.uk JEAN DUFTY email: secretary@manchestergands.org.uk DERRICK LACK email: treasurer@manchestergands.org.uk Alternatively, use this contact form... First Name Last Name Your Email Subject Type Your Message Here Send Message Thank You!

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.

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

Programme for the 2015–16 (84th) Season Tuesday 6th Octo ber 2015 at 7.30 pm “Do you hear that? Are you not delighted?” Arthur Barrett of Norwich G&S Society will entertain us with unusual or rare recordings from his large collection. Tuesday 3rd November 2015 at 7.30 pm “When I was a lad I served a term...” Mike Leigh, well-known film and theatre Director and writer, local lad and former member of this Society as a youth, will talk about his view of Gilbert and Sullivan. [P rofessional engagements permitting.] Prior booking essential: £7 for visitors The Harold Sumner meeting. Tuesday 1st December 2015 at 7.30 pm “everything is interesting, tell us, tell us all about it” James Hendry, a very talented young pianist, accompanist and conductor from the RNCM will talk about promoting G&S and will entertain us on the pian o. [Professional engagements permitting.] The Norman Beckett meeting . T uesday 12th January 2016 at 7.30 pm “Lift your song on high, all comers.” Some members of Sale Gilbert and Sullivan Society will entertain us right royally as they have done before. Always an enjoyable evening. Sunday 31st January 2016 at 2.30 pm “On each of us thy learning shed.” A talk, illustrated at the piano, by tenor and singing teacher, Oliver White. We have enjoyed his many performances at Buxton/Harrogate G&S Festivals and his talk to the 2012 Convention. [Professional engagements permitting.] Admission: members £5, visitors £7. The Sheila Taylor meeting. Tuesday 1st March 2016 at 7.30 pm “born in leap year...” A Frederic's birthday party; amusing ourselves and enjoying bring-and-share refreshments. Sunday 3rd April 2016 at 2.30 pm “Everything is a source of fun.” Concert by soprano Ruth Betteridge who trained at the RNCM and has performed in the professional G&S Festival company. [Professional engagements permitting.] Admission: members £5, visitors £7. Tuesday 3rd May 2016 at 7.30 pm “What ought we to do?” Annual General Meeting plus entertainment. Review

Join Us Would you like to join us? W e are a well-established Society for anyone who has an interest in all things G ilbert and Sullivan. W e are not a performing society, but an appreciation society. By joining you get: An interesting and varied programme of events. Savings on the cost to some of our events. The Gilbert and Sullivan News (published three times a year) which contains a wealth of information. Annual Membership: Adult Members: £22.00 Junior/Student Members (under the age of 18 or receiving full-time education): £11.00 Note: Subscriptions date from 8th April to 7th April. The subscription of a member joining between 1st January and 7th April will be half the full amount. Please fill in the form below if you would like to join us or have a query on your membership status. First name Last name Email Write a message Submit Thanks for submitting!

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.