Poster

"Ivanhoe" 75th Anniversary Production 23rd - 27th March 1999

Programme

Production Team

View the Ivanhoe Programme (1999) in PDF format.

The Cast

Background:

Sir Arthur Sullivan made his name and his fortune, and ultimately obtained his immortality, by collaborating on the wonderful series of Savoy operas with Sir William Gilbert. However, throughout his life he longed to write a serious opera, and when the impresario, Richard D'Oyly Carte, offered to build a new theatre specifically to mount such a piece, the composer simply couldn't refuse. He asked Gilbert to write the script but Gilbert, always realistic in assessing his own capabilities, refused the commission and suggested the eminent playwright Jul ian Sturgis. Sullivan then chose as his inspiration one of the greatest of all novels, 'Ivanhoe', by Sir Walter Scott.

The opera was a tremendous artistic success and ran for 155 consecutive performances before being toured by the Carl Rosa Company and included in Beecham's 1910 season at Covent Garden.

And now you have a chance to see Sullivan's 'Ivanhoe' on the stage of the Kings Theatre. Members of the Society were involved in making the first complete CD recording of the work in 1988 and I'm delighted that they have now chosen to bring the work to this stage in 1999. It will probably be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so don't miss it! If you like 'The Yeomen of the Guard' you'll love 'Ivanhoe'.