Arthur Sullivan

During the Victorian era The Golden Legend was second only to Handel's Messiah in popularity and is regarded by Sullivan experts as his finest concert work. Never before recorded in its entirety, Hyperion and Ronald Corp, with support from the Sir Arthur Sullivan Society and The D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust, have resurrected this masterpiece...

During the summer of 1886 following on from the huge success that was The Mikado, Sullivan hid himself away in a cottage in Yorktown and composed a secular cantata that Gilbert was to recognise as 'the biggest thing you've done'. Scenes following the première at the Leeds Festival on 15 October transcended any known before, with the audience on its feet waving programmes and hats, climbing on chairs and hurling flowers. The choir had formed an opinion of its own of the work at rehearsal – and had accumulated bouquets under their chairs to launch at the composer.

SULLIVAN

The Golden Legend

Janice Watson, soprano
Jean Rigby, mezzo soprano
Mark Wilde, tenor
Jonathan Brown, tenor
Jeffrey Black, baritone

The London Chorus
New London Orchestra
Ronald Corp, conductor

Total duration: 94' 47"

HYPERION CDA67280 (2 discs)

Click to listen, buy or download from Hyperion

'A vivid and melodious score worthy to stand among Sullivan’s finest works.'

BBC Music Magazine

SULLIVAN

The Prodigal Son
Boer War Te Deum

Claire Rutter, soprano
Catherine Denley, mezzo soprano
Mark Wilde, tenor
Garry Magee, baritone

The London Chorus
New London Orchestra
Ronald Corp, conductor

Total duration: 75' 6"

HYPERION CDA67423

Click to listen, buy or download from Hyperion

'Sullivan-admirers and British-music buffs need not hesitate ... Strongly recommended.'

Fanfare, USA

SULLIVAN

The Contrabandista (or 'The Law of the Ladrones')
The Foresters (or 'Robin Hood and Maid Marian')

Claire Rutter, soprano
Joanna Cohn, soprano
Catherine Hopper, soprano
Frances McCafferty, contralto
Ashley Catling, tenor
Justin Bindley, tenor
Donald Maxwell, baritone
Richard Suart, baritone
Geoffrey Moses, bass

The London Chorus
New London Orchestra
Ronald Corp, conductor

Total duration: 76' 16"

HYPERION CDA67486

Click to listen, buy or download from Hyperion

'The choir and orchestra with Ronald Corp seem to be having a good time, enthusiastic in their task. The clear recording is helped by the fine acoustics of the Henry Wood Hall. This is a worthwhile addition to the Sullivan discography.'

International Record Review

See Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Choruses edited by Ronald Corp published by Faber Music

The above recordings were made possible by
The Arthur Sullivan Society
of which Ronald Corp is a Vice-President