Gilbert and Sullivan gala

NCH, Dublin

There are many ways to present a Gilbert and Sullivan gala, and this was one of those that could have been a smash hit or fallen flat. Operas were represented by a selection of songs, not always in the right dramatic order but with each group arranged to end with a bang. Occasionally we got some of the preceding dialogue, but most of the continuity was taken care of by the singers introducing single songs or a group.

That format depends on personalities, and on the whole it worked, thanks to five singers who were naturals for this music. Richard Stuart's comedic abilities carried much of the evening, and his skill as a patter-man was heard par excellencein Love Unrequited, from Iolanthe.

Poor Wand'ring One, from The Pirates of Penzance, was one of the highlights from soprano Sylvia O'Brien. In several songs from contralto Jill Pert, it was clear why she has such a reputation playing roles such as Buttercup from HMS Pinafore. Good solo and ensemble turns were also heard from tenor Stephen Anthony Brown and baritone Simon Morgan.

Sometimes the most experienced singers, Stuart and Pert, got dangerously near to parodying their parodic roles. Nevertheless, the musical strengths of this concert were considerable, and much of that depended on the playing of the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and the conducting of Timothy Henty.

Arthur Sullivan’s music is replete with subtle parody, and is best done as on this occasion: straight, vigorously, and with a knack of characterising detail while keeping things moving in a scale as large as the deliberately short-term music permits. With the RTÉCO and the singers in highly responsive form, and Henty as an evident master of this repertoire, this was an evening that set out its own space and, for the most part, filled it.