Opera Australia presents a glorious tribute to the evergreen canon of Gilbert & Sullivan, long revered composers of their own special topsy-turvy style of operetta. 

What a difference a director makes. Where other musical concerts tend to take a chance on throwing the artists in front of an orchestra and hoping for the best, the standard of Gilbert & Sullivan – A Musical Celebration is vastly superior given the canny guidance and keen insight of director Stuart Maunder. 

A life-long devotee of Gilbert & Sullivan, the intricate knowledge and abundant passion of director Maunder permeates every aspect of the performance. Working from a concept by Patrick Togher, Maunder has crafted a generous sampling of Gilbert & Sullivan classics along with some lesser known gems. 

Not only has Maunder written his Director’s Notes in the (complimentary) program but has also included notes about each and every musical item. Further, Maunder has written introductions to brackets of songs, which are confidently and warmly delivered by the eight performers to provide invaluable background information as the concert progresses. 

The classy production sees the eight performers in elegant formal evening wear, sparkling under the lighting design of Alex Lynn. In the absence of character-based costumes, the talented singers fully conjure the cavalcade of characters with their physical and vocal performances, benefiting from the sharp direction of Maunder. Jaunty choreography, often with an air of vaudevillian whimsy, completes the entertaining stage performances.

A premium attraction of the concert is the sterling quality of music from Orchestra Victoria. Rightly positioned in full view on stage, a full contingent of the orchestra is led with energy, flair, and keen attention to detail by maestro Chad Kelly. The orchestra shimmers through the opening item, the overture from Iolanthe, later beginning act two with the richly melodious overture from The Yeomen of the Guard. 

The company of singers is introduced by a brisk opening medley, clearly setting the high standard for the musical and lyrical pleasure to come. 

After sampling his Pirate King hit in the opening medley, Mingay later hilariously plays against type as the fey and fastidious Sir Joseph Porter with “I am the monarch of the sea” (HMS Pinafore). In act two, Mingay ventures into the front rows to gently menace the audience with ‘A more humane Mikado” (The Mikado). 

Kelly’s credit as Fellow of the Royal College of Organists is put to excellent use in a very special item late in the concert. Featuring lyrics by Adelaide Proctor to Sullivan’s music, a moving rendition of “The Lost Chord” is sung by Antoinette Halloran, accompanied by Kelly on the grand pipe organ of the Regent Theatre. Halloran also shines in a gracefully contemplative performance of “When a merry maiden marries” (The Gondoliers). 

The flexible talents of Alexander Lewis are seen in his crisp rendition of all-time great patter song “I am the very model of a Major-General,” (The Pirates of Penzance), later contrasted with a swooningly romantic performance of “Take a pair of sparkling eyes” (The Gondoliers). 

John Longmuir proves a very good sport, squeaking and cracking through cheeky comic number “A tenor, all singers above” (Utopia Limited). Longmuir earns welcome laughs with Danielle Bavli as the pair demonstrates the humour to be found by playing straight despite the ridiculous circumstances of Frederic and Mabel’s series of mid-act two duets in The Pirates of Penzance. 

Beautifully balancing the merriment, Cathy-Di Zhang artfully performs lead soprano arias “The hours creep on apace” (HMS Pinafore) and “The sun whose rays” (The Mikado). 

Solid support comes from Ruth Strutt, who shows a great talent from bringing distinct expression to featured solo lines, and Leon Vitogiannis, who joins Longmuir for a stirring rendition of “We’re  called gondolieri” (The Gondoliers).

The full company successfully joins forces for a rousing act one finale of “When the foeman bares his steel” (The Pirates of Penzance), with the four men as Police, the four women as Daughters and even a quick “Yes, but you don’t go!” from Kelly. 

The act finale of the concert is the joyous act two finale of HMS Pinafore. Could this be taken as an audition for a full return season of Maunder’s HMS Pinafore, with Mingay as Sir Joseph Porter, Lewis as Captain Corcoran, Halloran as Buttercup, Longmuir as Frederic, and Zhang as Josephine? Only time will tell…

Gilbert & Sullivan – A Musical Celebration played at Regent Theatre, Melbourne, 22-25 May 2026.

Photos: Jeff Busby