Gilbert & Sullivan Society, Manchester

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Gilbert & Sullivan Society, Manchester

A friendly, non-performing Society of people who are interested in the works of Gilbert & Sullivan. Then our Society may be for you.

Interested in Gilbert & Sullivan and want to know more about them? We don't perform, but are an appreciation Society and enjoy talks, concerts, recitals etc given by guest speakers. Our aim is to learn more about Gilbert & Sullivan and their world in a relaxed and enjoyable way. We meet at the Unitarian Chapel, Manchester, which is a bright and modern venue in the city centre with easy access. Our full programme of events is on our website at www.manchestergands.org.uk.

04/04/2024

** APRIL 2024 EVENT - LIVE - SUNDAY 7th APRIL at 2.30pm **

Gilbert & Sullivan & Delicate Sexual Matters; a talk by Professor Derek Scott

Our April event will be a live talk at our usual venue, Cross Street Chapel, by Professor Derek Scott, an interesting and lively speaker on all matters G&S. He was a Professor of Music at Salford and later Leeds universities and his intriguing subject can be heard at 2.30pm. Free admission - all welcome.

24/02/2024

** MARCH 2024 EVENT - LIVE - SUNDAY 3rd MARCH at 2.30pm **

An Illustrated Exploration of “Patience”; by Paul Taylor

Our March event will be a presentation on “Patience”. The talk will examine how the idea of the opera came about, its development, some of the music cut before or shortly after the first performance, recollections of the opera by performers and a look at the wider world in 1881. It will include excerpts from recordings, illustrations and live music from our “Society pianist” David Wheeler.

Given the close proximity to Frederic’s birthday, there will also be a modest celebration during the interval with complimentary sherry and cake.

There is no charge for admission and everyone is very welcome to attend this presentation which will take place at our usual venue in Cross Street, central Manchester - free admission. Start time 2.30pm.

01/02/2024

** FEBRUARY 2024 EVENT - BY ZOOM - TUESDAY 6th FEBRUARY at 7.30pm **

A Talk by Laurence Leng

The late John Cannon and Melvyn Tarran were avid collectors of G&S memorabilia and each assembled an impressive and wide-reaching collection. Laurence, a member of Sussex G&S Society, has access to much of the material and will share some of the treasures with us during his presentation.

Everyone is welcome to join in this Zoom event but if you would like to do so, please contact our Secretary, Jean Dufty, on [email protected] uk to obtain joining details, BEFORE SUNDAY 4th February please.

04/01/2024

** JANUARY 2024 EVENT - BY ZOOM - TUESDAY 9th JANUARY at 7.30pm **

A Talk by Ken Robertson-Scott

Former Stage Manager with the D’Oyly Carte, Ken has had an interesting and varied career. He has kindly agreed to give a Zoom presentation outlining his wealth of knowledge and experience in lighting, scenery and stage management generally.

Everyone is welcome to join in this Zoom meeting but if you would like to do so, please contact our Secretary, Jean Dufty, on [email protected] uk to obtain joining details, BEFORE SUNDAY 7th JANUARY please.

30/11/2023

** DECEMBER 2023 MEETING - BY ZOOM - TUESDAY 5th DECEMBER at 7.30pm **

A Talk/Presentation by Dr Elisabeth Kehoe

Dr Elisabeth Kehoe is an author and senior research fellow of the Institute of Historical Research, University of London. She has recently published a biography of Richard D’Oyly Carter’s second wife; “Queen of the Savoy: The Extraordinary Life of Helen D’Oyly Carte 1852-1913”

Helen was an astute businesswoman who played a major part in the Gilbert & Sullivan story and the business affairs of her husband. This presentation will explore Helen’s involvement in detail. Everyone is welcome to join in this Zoom meeting. Please contact our Secretary, Jean Dufty, on [email protected] uk to obtain joining details, BEFORE SUNDAY 3rd DECEMBER please.

30/10/2023

** NOVEMBER 2023 MEETING, LIVE AT CROSS STREET - SUNDAY 5th NOVEMBER at 2.30pm **

A Concert by Bruce Graham

Our November event will be a very special one. Bruce Graham, the well known bass-baritone of D’Oyly Carte and the G&S International Festivals, has kindly agreed to give a concert. Joined by his wife Caroline and accompanied at the piano by our member David Wheeler, this promises to be a memorable afternoon’s entertainment. Everyone is welcome to attend. Admission is £5 for Society members and £7 visitors. The venue is Cross Street Chapel and the concert starts at 2.30pm.

24/09/2023

** OCTOBER 2023 MEETING, LIVE AT CROSS STREET - SUNDAY 1st OCTOBER at 2.30pm **

A Concert by Crosby G&S Society

The first meeting of our 2023-2024 season (our 92nd) will be a live event at Cross Street Chapel. Crosby G&S Society are busy preparing for their next production, which will be Iolanthe in April next year. However, we are very pleased that they found time to provide a concert of G&S items for us this coming Sunday, the 1st October. Everyone - members and visitors - are very welcome to attend this FREE event.

24/10/2022

** NOVEMBER 2022 MEETING - SUNDAY 6th NOVEMBER at 2.30pm **

At next month’s meeting in Cross Street Chapel, our member David Wheeler will examine some recordings of the operas. He will explore why some D’Oyly Carte singers were replaced by other singers and give more information about who those singers were. We will hear a wide range of recordings during this presentation, looked at from new perspectives, and it should give an interesting insight into the Company’s recording history. Admission is free and visitors are very welcome to attend.

12/09/2022

** OCTOBER 2022 MEETING - SUNDAY 2nd October at 2.30pm **

We are pleased that our first event of our 2022-2023 season (our 91st) begins next month with a live concert at Cross Street. We have five professional singers to entertain us in song to celebrate the life of our late member, Dorothy Goulden. Dorothy's husband, David, will present the event. He is a teacher with Knowsley MBC and was involved in the early musical training of the singers. All are very welcome to attend this free event.

18/02/2022

** MARCH 2022 MEETING - SUNDAY 6th March at 2.30pm **

“The Gondoliers” - an Illustrated History of the Opera

We are pleased to return to live meetings in March and April at our usual venue - details on this page. Our March meeting is on Sunday the 6th in the afternoon. It’s a presentation on “The Gondoliers”, explaining how the opera came to be written, how the critics responded to it and details of some of the original cast members. The presentation will also look at some other world events which happened in the same year - 1889. It will include excerpts from the opera on CD and the piano and be illustrated with slides. All visitors are very welcome to attend this FREE event. Start time is 2.30pm prompt.

26/01/2022

** FEBRUARY 2022 MEETING BY ZOOM - TUESDAY 1st February at 7.30pm **
A Talk by Peggy Ann Jones & Abby Hadfield

Peggy Ann and Abby are well-remembered members of the D'Oyly Carte from the 1960/70s. They will give an evening of reminiscence and anecdote about their time there and this promises to be an interesting and amusing evening. All are welcome to attend the presentation. For details of how to attend, please contact our Secretary Jean Dufty. Details are on this page.

03/01/2022

** JANUARY 2022 MEETING BY ZOOM - TUESDAY 11th January at 7.30pm **
A Presentation by Jeff Clarke, Artistic Director of Opera della Luna

Our first meeting of 2022 will be a Zoom presentation by Jeff Clarke of Opera della Luna. Jeff has a wide experience, having worked with, amongst others, the Royal Opera Covent Garden, Australian Opera, Scottish Opera and Lyric Opera of Queensland. He is the author of "Borrowed Light", the story of 15 years of touring with the company. He is also working on a new book detailing the workings of the D'Oyly Carte touring company of the 1920s. To attend the presentation, please contact our Secretary Jean Dufty. Details are on this page. All are welcome to attend.

Address

Unitarian Chapel, Cross Street
Manchester
M21NL

Website

http://www.manchestergands.org.uk/

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