Post AjQv2fUnOdD75ruNlI by dan131riley@federate.social
 (DIR) More posts by dan131riley@federate.social
 (DIR) Post #AjQYyf4ynwNReVW96u by ZachWeinersmith@mastodon.social
       2024-06-29T18:01:41Z
       
       0 likes, 0 repeats
       
       Hey musical theatre people, stupid question: so in the old Gilbert and Sullivan stuff, it's very clever, but often between the music and that vibrato opera style I can't make out the words easily. I imagine it'd be even harder in a crowded theatre, no? How did they make people laugh when the lyrics were hard to hear?
       
 (DIR) Post #AjQZGgiHT6W3vrUnwm by Gaolaitch@cupoftea.social
       2024-06-29T18:04:56Z
       
       0 likes, 0 repeats
       
       @ZachWeinersmith Yeah, good singers using the right style can be understood. Opera is not the right style for G&S.
       
 (DIR) Post #AjQZfVNElV880GUEJU by DaleOh@mastodon.social
       2024-06-29T18:09:27Z
       
       0 likes, 0 repeats
       
       @ZachWeinersmith printed libretto
       
 (DIR) Post #AjQaXvdBMEel4ltbay by Crysophilax@mastodon.social
       2024-06-29T18:19:17Z
       
       0 likes, 0 repeats
       
       @ZachWeinersmith originally the D’Oylye Carte Opera company had a monopoly on the production rights, until 1961 they performed it as it should be, not operatic, and it was understandable. I saw them in the 1960’s as a teenager. The humour was dated and not very funny, to me anyway, but the words were quite clear.
       
 (DIR) Post #AjQanVzwQaqGD5yQBU by artemesia@techhub.social
       2024-06-29T18:22:06Z
       
       0 likes, 0 repeats
       
       @ZachWeinersmith The style should be patter, not opera, save for the solo songs.
       
 (DIR) Post #AjQpGa8rUzDgontsno by johnpettigrew@wandering.shop
       2024-06-29T21:04:13Z
       
       0 likes, 0 repeats
       
       @ZachWeinersmith I believe the modern fashion for immense vibrato only really took off in the early 20th century. So, originally, not a problem!
       
 (DIR) Post #AjQpuM8Qzm8ExafMVE by dan131riley@federate.social
       2024-06-29T21:11:24Z
       
       0 likes, 0 repeats
       
       @ZachWeinersmith as a kid we’d go to G&S performances by the Stanford Savoyards, and it was never an issue.  They weren’t meant to be Wagnerian, they were always meant to be more conversational (and the Savoyards would frequently update them to be topical too).  Light opera is a totally different beast from Wagner or even Verdi.
       
 (DIR) Post #AjQu433vA6m8WGQr8C by ZachWeinersmith@mastodon.social
       2024-06-29T21:58:00Z
       
       0 likes, 0 repeats
       
       @dan131riley Is there a recording you especially like?
       
 (DIR) Post #AjQv2fUnOdD75ruNlI by dan131riley@federate.social
       2024-06-29T22:08:56Z
       
       0 likes, 0 repeats
       
       @ZachWeinersmith not offhand, but there’s actually lots to recommend the Simpsons episode where Kelsey Grammer (as sideshow bob) reenacts Pinafore.  Simpsons did it!