Over the years since complete recordings first began to appear, The Sorcerer has received just two major recordings, the first of these was in 1953 and the second in 1966 and both featured singers who had never performed the work on the professional stage, the sets and costumes for the opera having been destroyed in the blitz. As a result of the 1966 recording D'Oyly Carte revived the work in 1971 but never again recorded it. Both these recordings were made by DECCA. An abridged recording was issued by HMV in 1933 and features many of the artistes then performing with D'Oyly Carte. Musical Director, Isidore Godfrey, conducts on all three recordings.
The importance of the 1933 abridged recording cannot be underestimated for it is the only record we have of the performance style for this opera of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company preserved by a cast who actually presented the work on stage as part of their regular repertoire.
Approximately half of the opera is recorded with Darrell Fancourt as Sir Marmaduke, Derek Oldham as Alexis, Leslie Rands as Dr Daly, Dorothy Gill as Lady Sangazure, Muriel Dickson as Aline, Anna Bethell as Mrs Partlett and Alice Moxon as Constance. Two guests, George Baker and Stuart Robertson perform as John Wellington-Wells and the Notary. The chorus and orchestra is that of D'Oyly Carte.
This recording is currently available in three issues, Pearl GEMM CDS 9025 (pictured above) coupled with the 1926 recording of Mikado, Arabesque Z8068-2 coupled with the 1929 Pirates and Naxos 8.110785-86 coupled with the 1953 Sorcerer (complete) see below. The recordings are very clear and surface noise is at an absolute minimum, the Naxos transfer probably being the best of the three.
The 1953 DECCA recording was the penultimate issue in what was to become affectionately known as the "DECCA first series".
None of the cast on this recording had performed the opera live, and yet the enthusiasm of the re-born post-war company shines through making this a delightful, fresh and immediate performance. Fisher Morgan is excellently pompous as Sir Marmaduke, Neville Griffiths superbly upper-class as Alexis, Jeffrey Skitch is suitably pious as Dr Daly and Donald Adams play the first of his many recorded and unforgettable roles as the Notary. The delightful and much lamented Ann Drummond-Grant (Mrs Isidore Godfrey) plays Lady Sangazure, Muriel Harding is a sweet, innocent Aline and Beryl Dixon and Yvonne Dean are both delightful as Mrs Partlet and her shy daughter, Constance.
Most importantly this is the first of only four commercial recordings to feature Peter Pratt, here heard in the comic patter baritone role of John Wellington-Wells. Pratt's all too brief career with D'Oyly Carte is often forgotten as it spanned the period between the legendary Martyn Green and the irreplaceable John Reed, but here he is heard on top form.
The recording is also of interest as it preserves three minor cuts in the score that were undoubtedly preserved from the pre-war stage production. Firstly, the second verse of Constance's first aria "When he is here", a major portion of the Aline/Alexis duet "O Love" in the Act One finale, and the repeat in Constance's "O joy, o joy" in Act Two. With the exception of the latter, these are opened up in the 1966 recording. However, a repeat in the Act Two country dance preserved in the 1953 recording is not preserved in 1966 although it was in stage performances from 1971 onwards.
The performance is conducted by the indefatigable Isidore Godfrey, the only member of the company who would have had first hand experience of actual D'Oyly Carte performances of the work. The recording is currently available on the Avid label - AMSC 799 and also on Naxos 8.110785-86. Naxos couple this with the 1933 abridged recording (see above) and therefore this issue has to be highly recommended as it contains the two best recordings of the work, currently available, on one set of discs.
To hear "My name is John Wellington Wells" performed by Peter Pratt, click on the image above.
The 1966 recording should never have happened! A new recording of MIKADO was scheduled, but the indisposition of Sir Malcolm Sargent dictated a re-think and Isidore Godfrey came to the rescue, thus completing the "DECCA second series".
That the 1966 SORCERER is somewhat sterile is no surprise. It was 28 years since the last live D'Oyly Carte performance and once again Isidore Godfrey is the only link to those days. Another great sadness is that although Kenneth Sandford would make the role of Dr Daly so much his own when the opera was revived in 1971, here the part was entrusted to Alan Styler who, although competent enough, cannot hope to compare with Sanford's interpretation. Donald Adams makes a superbly uppercrust Sir Marmaduke, Valerie Masterson a delightful Aline and John Reed begins to hint at the delights of his John Wellington-Wells. For the remainder we have here a very competent concert performance with no hint of the stupendous stage production that was to be revealed just five years later.
DECCA have recently repackaged this recording and it is available as a two disc set coupled with THE ZOO. The catalogue number is 473 659-2
Back in 1982 a video production company controlled by George Walker announced a complete series of Gilbert and Sullivan presentations. In the event all the operas with the exception of THESPIS, UTOPIA and GRAND DUKE were produced, with varying results. Introductions to each presentation, given by Douglas Fairbanks Jnr. were an annoying feature of these tapes as were the multiple cuts in YEOMEN.
One of the best of the series was undoubtedly THE SORCERER and this has now become available in the UK again, this time on DVD. Currently this is part of an eleven disc set containing all the operas, but hopefully they will become available singly at a later date.
The medium of film allows the director the freedom to move in and out of Sir Marmaduke's mansion, around the gardens, in and out of the refreshment tent and, at one point, out into a neighbouring field to visit a haystack!!
This production is thankfully lacking in the "star" names that spoil some of the other presentations in this series. The cast is headed by ex-D'Oyly Carter, Donald Adams as Sir Marmaduke, playing a role her never assumed on stage but obviously relishing every moment. Nuala Willis is suitably matched as Lady Sangazure. Nan Christie is a thoroughly delightful Aline and Alexander Oliver is suitably pompous and strong willed as Alexis. Enid Hartle and Janis Kelly give excellent performances as Mrs Partlet and her daughter, Constance and an ageing David Kernan gives a suitably bumbling performance as Dr Daly. Clive Revill, who made such a tremendous impression as Ko-Ko at Sadler's Wells in 1962, gives a splendid performance as John Wellington-Wells. The Notary is uncredited but was possibly a member of the Ambrosian Opera Chorus. The London Symphony Orchestra is conducted splendidly by Alexander Faris.
Douglas Faibanks Jnr. is still present, but then the advantage of DVD is that you can skip him!!
The set has been reissued in new packaging and with complete production libretto included in each case, by Universal (catalogue number DVD 8228651-11), the rrp is £99.99 although it can be found much cheaper. www.amazon.co.uk often retail this set at much less. Each separate disc has its own catalogue number and this DVD is now available separately on 822 870-3 although it does seem to go in and out of stock.