Valerie Masterson was one of the best. Formidable technique and superb musicality made her singing seem effortless. She was a great favourite at many European opera houses.
Where can I get a hold of a copy of this entire Pirates of Penzance film? Looks like it was from the 1960s D'Oyle Carte Opera which also made a movie of The Mikado also starring Valerie Masterson. Her Mabel is my all time favorite she had that absolutely gorgeous coloratura ability to get way up there in the high notes and trills she was such a talent! And such a beautiful woman. Cheers~
Hi it is not a complete , but an abbreviated performance recorded by Gilbert & Sullivan For All for UK Television. There is linking narration mainly from Thomas Round and the singers are D'Oyly Carte favourites like Ann Hood, Donald Adams , Gillian Humpfreys, also the contralto Helen Landis who recorded her roles several times with different companies / groups. I believe the performances were once issued on video cassette, but I finally tracked them down on the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival website. If you subscribe you get access to many savoy operetta films from around the world , among which are these G& S for All TV films from the 1960s. It is a paid subscription, just so that you know. Best wishes.
