As with Burnand and Sullivan's COX AND BOX, THE ZOO is something of a D'Oyly Carte 'cuckoo in the nest' as it has nothing to do with W. S. Gilbert whatsoever.  The piece was first produced at the St James' Theatre in June 1875 some 3 months after the premiere of TRIAL BY JURY, and sustained a number of revivals at various theatres until 1879.  Sullivan then withdrew the piece in the hope that his friend, Andy Cole, would re-write the rather inadequate libretto by B C Stephenson.  However, this was not to be and the rumour that Sullivan had reused the score in later works was finally scotched in the late 1960's when Professor Terrence Rees purchased the autograph full score at a Southerby's auction.  The opera proved to be delightfully intact and apart from one number (Carboy's "I loved her fondly" which was the obvious model for "A wand'ring minstrel" (MIKADO)), Sullivan had left the score untouched and unused.

The opera made it's first modern appearance at Fullham in 1971 partnered with a revival of "THESPIS" and again in 1972 in a triple bill with "CONTRABANDISTA" and "TRIAL BY JURY".  Around the same time the BBC recorded a studio performance which was subsequently broadcast on at least two occasions.

DECCA released their recording with D'Oyly Carte in 1978.  Sadly someone felt it necessary to add animal sound effects and a narration, delivered by Geoffrey Shovelton, which add nothing to the performance.  Despite this nothing can detract from Kenneth Sandford's remarkable performance as THOMAS BROWN and there is a rare chance to hear Meston Reid (a most delightful and sadly missed tenor) as AESCULAPIUS CARBOY.

DECCA have recently repackaged this recording and it is available as a two disc set coupled with THE SORCERER.  The catalogue number is 473 659-2.

To listen to the quartet "Once more the face", click on the image above.