ONLY COMPLETE RECORDING. Sir Arthur Sullivan wrote his light opera Haddon Hall when he was at the height of his considerable creative powers. Despite his intention to turn away from writing "lighter" works so that he could concentrate on more serious fare, Sullivan's love of the good-life forced his return to the rather more lucrative stage of the Savoy Theatre, and the world of comic opera. Sydney Grundy presented him with a libretto based on an actual historical incident, namely the elopement of Dorothy Vernon, with her lover John Manners, from Haddon Hall, her ancestral home. The opera was completed and presented at the Savoy Theatre on 24th September 1892. The reception to Sullivan's music (though not the libretto!) was ecstatic. Bernard Shaw thought Haddon Hall to be the very best of the Savoy Operas, and for a while the piece beat even the Mikado in box office receipts. We hope that, after hearing this new recording, you will agree that Haddon Hall is an unjustly neglected work of great charm, fully worthy of Britain's most famous composer of the 19th century, Sir Arthur Sullivan.

Tracklist:

Ye Stately Homes Of England (--)
Today It Is A Festal Time
T'was A Dear Little Dormouse (-)
Hail To The Lord Of Haddon (----)
When The Budding Blooms Of May (-)
Nay Father Dear (--)
Mother Dearest Mother (---)
Ribbons To Sell (-)
The Sun's In The Sky (--)
My Mistress Comes (--)
Oh Tell Me What Is A Maid To Say (--)
Red Of The Rosebud (--)
Down With Princes: Entrance Of Puritans
I've Heard It Said (--)
The Bonny Bridegroom Cometh (----)
When I Was But A Little Lad (-----)
Hail, Cousin Rupert (--)
When Yestereve I Went To Pray (--)
Father, Forgive! (--)
The Earth Is Fair (--)
Sweetly The Morn Doth Break (--)
Hoarsely The Wind Is Blowing (--)
My Name It Is Mccrankie (--)
There's No-One By (--)
Hoity-Toity (--)
The West Wind Howls (--)
Storm (--)
In Days Of Old (--)
Eloped! Eloped! (--)
We Were Sheltering All (--)
In Vain They Will Blunder (--)
Our Heads We Bow (-)
Queen Of The Garden (--)
Alone - Alone (--)
Bride Of My Youth (--)
In Frill And Feather (--)
Good General Monk (--)
We Have Thought The Matter Out (---)
Hech Mon (--)
Finale - Hark The Cannon (---)

UPC: 809730120121
Label: Divine Art
Release Date: 10.24.06
Format: CD

David Lyle - Grundy/Sullivan : Haddon Hall (2 CD)