Sir Arthur SullivAn Society

Performers and SpeakersRobin Wilson is a retired mathsprofessor at the Open University, fromwhich he also gained a degree in music.He saw his first G&S production(Mikado) when he was eight and caughtthe bug in his teenage years. As a keensinger, he has taken part in stageproductions of all the G&S operasexcept Thespis and The Grand Duke,including eight of them in Buxton’swonderful Opera House, and has sungin performances of The Golden Legend,The Martyr of Antioch and The Light ofthe World. He is co-author (withFrederic Lloyd) of Gilbert & Sullivan: TheD’Oyly Carte Years and co-editor (withBrian Kay) of Gilbert & Sullivan Choruses.His liking for puns will becomeapparent during the Friday night quiz.Since his retirement as Professor of Chemistryand Biochemistr y at the University ofMassachusetts, Dartmouth, Dr. J. DonaldSmith has been free to indulge his interest andpassion for Gilbert and Sullivan. His activitieshave included participating in various capacitieswith the Savoynet Performing Group at theinternational G&S Festival, and occasionally witha local society, the Sudbury (Mass) Savoyards. Hehas also been able to examine many aspects ofthe lives of Gilbert, Sullivan and theircollaborators and to publish the results of thesestudies in the SASS Magazine and the W. S. GilbertJournal. His most recent excursion into the life ofSullivan’s long-time friend Mrs. Ronalds,presented at the SASS Festival in 2016 andearlier this year at the International G&S Festival,has provoked interest in a full-length biography.However he still gets diverted into otherexplorations, such as this year’s examination ofthe relationship between Sullivan and theLehmanns.-6-

Dr Anne Stanyon Ley trained originallyas a stage designer before moving sidewaysinto graphics and illustration – she still drawsgraphic novels. (Yes, there is Sullivan one, andone day, it may get completed!) She studiedHistory at the Universities of Warwick andOxford, completing a PhD in Music at theUniversity of Leeds in 2017, where herresearch centred on Sir Arthur Sullivan, theLeeds Festival and his career as a conductor.She lives in Ireland.Dr. Vincent Daniels isa keen amateur performerof Victorian andEdwardian opera andmusicals and hasperformed at least 33G&S and related roles. Hehas been a member of theSullivan Society since1977. Since his retirementfrom being a chemist atthe British Museum andthe Royal College of Arthe has developed aninterest in art, exhibitionsand entertainment inVictorian times while alsoperforming dramaticreadings and reading poetry to literary and other social groups. He is an Emeritus Researcherat the British Museum and a Visiting Professor at the University of the Arts.-7-

As a musicologist, accompanist, lecturer and conductor, Martin Yates began a life-long love ofthe music of Sullivan as a teenager, and since then singing, producing and conducting his works hasbeen at the core of his musical activities. He has been associated with the musical life of Retfordsince training as a teacher at Eaton Hall in the early 1970s and as former artistic director of theRetford Generally G&S group he has brought to the stage not only the popular Savoy operas butAsmusicologist,accompanist,lecturerand conductor,Martinbeganlife-longlove ofaalsoaTheGrand Duke,Haddon Hall,The Chieftain,The BeautyStoneYatesand TheRosea ofPersia. ging,producingandconductinghisworksseven-year term as musical director of Retford operatic Society in the 1980s he has since actedhasasbeenat athecore ofmusical activities. He has been associated with the musical life of RetfordMD fornumberof hisshows.since training as a teacher at Eaton Hall in the early 1970s and as former artistic director of theA busy accompanist,Martinconcertwithnotsingersand popularvarious SavoysingingoperasgroupsbutinRetfordGenerally G&Sgrouphasheperformedhas broughtin tothe stageonly thethe localarea. Hehas Haddonalso appearedwithChieftain,the famousChairmanalsoThe GrandDuke,Hall, TheThe ScarboroughBeauty StoneSpaandOrchestra.AsThe Rose of Persia.Afterofathe SullivantermSocietyhe has directoran internationalreputationhis writing,havinghecontributedto Theseven-yearas musicalof Retfordoperatic forSocietyin the 1980shas since actedasCambridgeCompanionto Gilbert and Sullivan, all three volumes of SullivanPerspektiven, and theMD for a numberof shows.booklet notes for the Chandos recordings of Ivanhoe and The Beauty Stone. In 2013 he gave aAbusy ndvarious singing groupsandinsold-outtalk on The MartinGoldenhasLegendto the inEnglishMusicDorchester-on-Thamesthearea.aboutHe hasappearedwithsymposiumthe famousinScarboroughSpa Orchestra.AsagainlocalspokethealsoLegendat thethis year’s Gilbertand SullivanChairmanFestival ofintheSullivan Society he has an international reputation for his writing, having contributed to TheHarrogate.Cambridge Companion to Gilbert and Sullivan, all three volumes of SullivanPerspektiven, and thebooklet notes for the Chandos recordings of Ivanhoe and The Beauty Stone. In 2013 he gave asold-out talk on The Golden Legend to the English Music Festival in Dorchester-on-Thames andagain spoke about the Legend at the symposium in this year’s Gilbert and Sullivan Festival inHarrogate.-8-

David Clarke was born and brought up in Winchester. He started playing the organ forDavid Clarke was born and brought up in Winchester. He started playing the organ forchildren’s services at the age of eleven and held church organists’ posts in Hampshire in his youth.children’s services at the age of eleven and held church organists’ posts in Hampshire in his youth.He obtained an honours degree in Music from Hull University, where he was organ scholar for aHe obtained an honours degree in Music from Hull University, where he was organ scholar for atime. He also held other organist’s posts in London and Hull.time. He also held other organist’s posts in London and Hull.On moving to Whitchurch, Shropshire in 1983 David was appointed organist at St Alkmund’s parishOn moving to Whitchurch, Shropshire in 1983 David was appointed organist at St Alkmund’s parishchurch, a post which he held until 2001. Since then he has acted as a type of “organist emeritus” atchurch, a post which he held until 2001. Since then he has acted as a type of “organist emeritus” atSt. Alkmund’s, playing for many of the services, mainly Evensongs, and directing choir practices.St. Alkmund’s, playing for many of the services, mainly Evensongs, and directing choir practices.Apart from his work as an organist and choirmaster, David has always enjoyed working as anApart from his work as an organist and choirmaster, David has always enjoyed working as anaccompanist, both for choirs and for vocal/instrumental soloists. He has also composed solo songsaccompanist, both for choirs and for vocal/instrumental soloists. He has also composed solo songsand music for liturgical use. His musical interests range from medieval, through the Renaissance toand music for liturgical use. His musical interests range from medieval, through the Renaissance tothe twentieth century, with a good smattering of Gilbert & Sullivan for enjoyment.the twentieth century, with a good smattering of Gilbert & Sullivan for enjoyment.Helen Clarke hails from Northumberland, the opposite end of the country from David. SheHelen Clarke hails from Northumberland, the opposite end of the country from David. Shestudied Music at Hull University, where she met and married David – the result of an encounter atstudied Music at Hull University, where she met and married David – the result of an encounter atthe university G&S Society during her presidential year. Roles during this period included thethe university G&S Society during her presidential year. Roles during this period included theDuchess of Plaza-Toro, Katisha, Lady Jane and Mad Margaret. (Make of that what you will!)Duchess of Plaza-Toro, Katisha, Lady Jane and Mad Margaret. (Make of that what you will!)Helen has sung her whole life long, both as a soloist and in choirs; she has also directed andHelen has sung her whole life long, both as a soloist and in choirs; she has also directed andconducted church choirs and choral societies. This has been alongside bringing up the family andconducted church choirs and choral societies. This has been alongside bringing up the family andpursuing a teaching career. She is currently Headmistress of The White House School inpursuing a teaching career. She is currently Headmistress of The White House School inWhitchurch. Music and Drama are strengths of the school, which has performed children’s versionsWhitchurch. Music and Drama are strengths of the school, which has performed children’s versionsof The Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado along with other musicals over the years – no mean featof The Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado along with other musicals over the years – no mean featfor a primary school!for a primary school!-9-9-

Stephen Turnbull was born in WestHartlepool in 1956 and received his fatalexposure to Sullivan while a pupil at thetown’s Grammar School. He went hard core,so to speak, at Hull University, where, as wellas playing small (very small!) parts for theGilbert and Sullivan Society, he developed hisinterest in collecting early records. Hebecame Secretary of the Sullivan Society in1979 and Editor of its Magazine, in successionto the late David Eden, in 2011. After a careerin banking and ecclesiastical administration henow lives in semi-retirement in a Cornishfarmhouse with wife Julie and three of hisgrandchildren. He has written and spokenextensively on topics around recordings, goodor otherwise, of Sullivan’s music.Russell Painter gained hisBMus. and MMus. at the GuildhallSchool of Music and Drama tostudy voice under Ian Kennedy.Opera credits include Tamino TheMagic Flute, Title rôle AlbertHerring, Pedrillo The Abduction fromthe Seraglio, Don Basillio TheMarriage of Figaro, Don JoséCarmen, Count Almaviva The Barberof Seville Gaston La Traviata and thesecond brother in the worldpremière of Laurence Roman’sIsabella and the Pot of Basil atCovent Garden and Buxton(recorded on the LR recordlabel. )Choral works includeHandel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Creation,Nelson Mass and The Seasons,Charpentier’s Messe De Minuit andTe D e u m , G o u n o d ’s M e s s eSolennelle, Haazen’s Missa Luba,Mozart’s Requiem, Vesperae Solennes and Coronation Mass, Rossini’s Petite Messe, Stainer’sCrucifixion,Beethoven’s Choral Symphony, Britten’s St Nicholas, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Orff’s CarminaBurana and numerous Bach cantatas and passions singing the rôle of the Evangelist. His recital workis also recognized in other fields of English music, most recently song settings of the poetry ofHousman in The Blue Remembered Hills for the Worcester festival.- 10 -

Russell is also a keen concert recitalist and after-dinner entertainer, having performed seven timeswith his Young Proms colleagues in the West Midlands area, and having raised over 100.000 forlocal and national charities. He also works for the London agency Hartley Voices with its groupAKA Opera providing unaccompanied opera classics for after-dinner and wedding entertainment.He has a very enthusiastic interest in the works of Gilbert and Sullivan and has played many of theprincipal tenor rôles. For the Sullivan Society in 2016 performed the rare full length version of Coxand Box for its 150th anniversary. He is a fellow of the London College of Music (FLCM) and hasjust recently become and examiner for the board. Russell spends most summers performing in thesouth of France, ranging from full scale operas, to concerts in converted barns.Next session’s highlights include: recording rare Elgar songs for the Elgar Society, Frederic in Pirateson the Welsh border, musical director for the professional revival of Elegies and Cox and Box againwith Leon Berger and Bruce Graham!A native of Liverpool, John Brierleyread music at University College,Durham where he was AssistantOrganist and a Rothwell Prize winner.He won a Major State Studentship forpost-graduate study at King’s College,London and held the post of Director ofMusic at St Peter’s Church, Streatham.Now living and working in Worcester,John enjoys a varied freelance careerwhich includes directing choirs includingBromsgrove Choral Society, beingMusical Director for Shakespeare at theCommandery productions, working asan accompanist for both singers andinstrumentalists and teaching at theElgar School of Music in Worcesterwhere he is also Head of AcademicStudies and a school governor.John is Organist and Choirmaster at StJohn-in-Bedwardine, Worcester. As anorganist, he gives recitals throughout thecountry at cathedrals, concert halls andmajor churches.- 11 -

Rosie Corner started her G&Sjourney with the CambridgeUniversity Gilbert and SullivanSociety and has taken on a numberof performing and costuming roles.In 2010 she directed, produced andperformed in a one-woman show,The Beginner's Guide to the Opera, atthe Corpus Playrooms, Cambridge.She has appeared several times atthe International Gilbert andSullivan Festival, and the festival wash o s t t o O p e r a A n o ny m o u s 'production of The Geisha in 2017which Rosie directed and produced.Rosie is currently in rehearsals forCloideryn's production of TheSound of Music on the Isle of Manwhere she will be playing Maria vonTrapp this November. When notbusy in her role as a civil servant,she is writing her first novel: afeminist comedy set during theFirst Crusade.- 12 -Matthew Siveter is a north Notts-bornbaritone who studied Drama and TheatreStudies at Royal Holloway University ofLondon. Since then he has gone on to workprofessionally in a range of projectsincluding opera, musical theatre, comedyand acting. He has performed Gilbert andSullivan from the age of twelve and hasgone on to play leading roles with theNational Gilbert and Sullivan OperaCompany (including Willis, the Mikado, andDespard). Matthew has played various partsincluding Orin Scrivello (Little Shop ofHorrors), Curly (Oklahoma!) and the Wolf(Into the Woods) along with roles in mostGilbert and Sullivan operas. He is a memberof the Young Artist programme of Iford ArtsFestival and his solo show Killing Time withMatt Siveter has proven popular in festivals,clubs and functions up and down thecountry. Alongside all this Matthew hasperformed with companies such as Operadella Luna, Charles Court Opera andTarantara Productions as well as roles inpantomime from villain to Dame.

Sir Arthur SullivAn Society Twenty-Third Sullivan Festival Royal Ag