The Gondoliers at Positively Wellington, Opera House

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2. The Gondoliers

Of all the G&S Comic Operas The Gondoliers has the most appealing of Sullivan’s music, typified by the exuberant extended opening number. In a sunny canal-side setting we meet the Palmieri brothers, excellent gondoliers and eligible bachelors whom the local contadine fuss over and contrive to marry.

An aristocratic party arrives from Spain, led by the pompous but impoverished Duke of Plaza-Toro. He proposes to make good by being corporatised and by the arranged marriage of his daughter to the heir to the wealthy throne of Barataria. There is confusion over the identity of the heir, revealed to be one or other of our two gallant gondolieri. They both take interim reign in Barataria leaving their new wives behind. Democrats and socialists at heart, their principles make a comic shambles of the Royal Court. All marriage bonds and protocols are restored when the true heir is otherwise revealed, with celebration concluding in a jubilant dance reprise.

Authors

• Arthur Sullivan
• Sir Arthur Sullivan
• W. S. Gilbert
• W.S. Gilbert
• William S. Gilbert