Dive into the enchanting world of Arthur Sullivan's "The Beauty Stone," a captivating romantic musical drama that showcases the composer's versatility beyond his famous collaborations. This opera, composed in three acts with a libretto by Arthur Wing Pinero and J. Comyns Carr, offers a rich tapestry of music that spans over two hours and nine minutes, featuring a grand total of 48 tracks.
Released on November 1, 2013, under the Chandos label, "The Beauty Stone" is a neglected gem that deserves a place in every classical music enthusiast's collection. The opera is brought to life by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conducted by the talented Rory Macdonald, ensuring a performance that is both authentic and compelling.
"The Beauty Stone" is a story of love, intrigue, and redemption, set against the backdrop of the picturesque Mirlemont town. The opera's score is a testament to Sullivan's mastery of the romantic genre, with lush orchestrations and memorable melodies that will captivate listeners from start to finish.
From the hauntingly beautiful "The bells are ringing o'er Mirlemont town" to the dramatic "Finale. Hail to the lord of our land!", each track in this album is a journey through Sullivan's musical genius. The opera features a diverse cast of characters, each brought to life through powerful vocal performances and intricate musical arrangements.
Whether you're a seasoned opera aficionado or a curious newcomer, "The Beauty Stone" is an album that will leave you spellbound. The intricate storytelling, combined with Sullivan's exquisite composition, makes this opera a timeless classic that will be enjoyed for generations to come. So, sit back, relax, and let the enchanting world of "The Beauty Stone" transport you to a world of romance, drama, and unforgettable music.
2013 Chandos Records2013 Chandos Records
Tracks
The Beauty Stone: IntroductionArthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales
The Beauty Stone: Act I, Scene 1: Click, clack, click, clack (Simon, Joan)Arthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, Stephen Gadd, Catherine Wyn-Rogers
The Beauty Stone: Act I, Scene 1: Hobble, hobble, now we've caught her (Joan, Simon, Chorus)Arthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, Stephen Gadd, Catherine Wyn-Rogers, BBC National Chorus of Wales, Adrian Partington
The Beauty Stone: Act I, Scene 1: Maidens and men of Mirlemont town (Chorus)Arthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, BBC National Chorus of Wales, Adrian Partington
The Beauty Stone: Act I, Scene 1: Dear Mary Mother, unto thee I bring (Laine)Arthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, Elin Manahan Thomas
The Beauty Stone: Act I, Scene 1: Who stands within? (Simon, Joan, Devil, Laine)Arthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, Elin Manahan Thomas, Stephen Gadd, Catherine Wyn-Rogers, Alan Opie
The Beauty Stone: Act I, Scene 1: Since it dwelt in that rock whose hallowed crest (Devil)Arthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, Alan Opie
The Beauty Stone: Act I, Scene 1: Appearance of LaineArthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales
The Beauty Stone: Act I, Scene 1: Change of SceneArthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales
The Beauty Stone: Act I, Scene 2: The bells are ringing o'er Mirlemont town (Chorus)Arthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, BBC National Chorus of Wales, Adrian Partington
The Beauty Stone: Act I, Scene 2: Maidens and men of Mirlemont town (Chorus)Arthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, BBC National Chorus of Wales, Adrian Partington
The Beauty Stone: Act I, Scene 2: My name is crazy Jacqueline (Jacqueline, Devil)Arthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, Madeleine Shaw, Alan Opie
The Beauty Stone: Act I, Scene 2: The bells are ringing o'er Mirlemont town (Chorus)Arthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, BBC National Chorus of Wales, Adrian Partington
The Beauty Stone: Act I, Scene 2: Know ye all, both great and small (Nicholas, Philip)Arthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, Toby Spence, Richard Suart
The Beauty Stone: Act I, Scene 2: I am Loyse from St. Denis (Loyse, Saida, Philip, Nicholas, Chorus)Arthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, Toby Spence, Richard Suart, Olivia Gomez, Rebecca Evans, BBC National Chorus of Wales, Adrian Partington
The Beauty Stone: Act I, Scene 2: In the hills beyond Florennes (Isabeau, Saida, Devil, Philip, Nicholas, Chorus)Arthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, Toby Spence, Richard Suart, Rebecca Evans, Alan Opie, Sarah Maxted, BBC National Chorus of Wales
The Beauty Stone: Act I, Scene 2: I am Barbe of Bovigny (Barbe, Chorus)Arthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, Llio Evans, BBC National Chorus of Wales, Adrian Partington
The Beauty Stone: Act I, Scene 2: Finale. Go, bring forth old Simon's daughter! (Chorus)Arthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, BBC National Chorus of Wales, Adrian Partington
The Beauty Stone: Act I, Scene 2: Finale. By Our Lady, she is fair! (Philip, Nicholas, Saida, Chorus)Arthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, Toby Spence, Richard Suart, Rebecca Evans, BBC National Chorus of Wales, Adrian Partington
The Beauty Stone: Act I, Scene 2: Finale. Oh, turn thine eyes away (Saida, Philip, Chorus)Arthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, Toby Spence, Rebecca Evans, BBC National Chorus of Wales, Adrian Partington
The Beauty Stone: Act I, Scene 2: Finale. In vain ye plead, some magic spell enthralls him! (Saida, Guntran, Devil, Joan, Simon, Philip, Chorus)Arthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, Toby Spence, Rebecca Evans, Alan Opie, David Stout, Stephen Gadd, Catherine Wyn-Rogers
The Beauty Stone: Act I, Scene 2: Finale. I can but tell I knelt and prayed (Laine, Philip, Chorus)Arthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, Toby Spence, Elin Manahan Thomas, BBC National Chorus of Wales, Adrian Partington
The Beauty Stone: Act II, Scene 1: With cards and dice, and with wine and laughter (Chorus)Arthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, BBC National Chorus of Wales, Adrian Partington
The Beauty Stone: Act II, Scene 1: MelosArthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales
The Beauty Stone: Act II, Scene 1: Though she should dance (Chorus)Arthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, BBC National Chorus of Wales, Adrian Partington
The Beauty Stone: Act II, Scene 1: Safe in her island home, whose sloping glades (Saida, Chorus)Arthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, Rebecca Evans, BBC National Chorus of Wales, Adrian Partington
The Beauty Stone: Act II, Scene 1: Nay, see ye not this maid is fair? (Philip, Chorus)Arthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, Toby Spence, BBC National Chorus of Wales, Adrian Partington
The Beauty Stone: Act II, Scene 1: I love thee! I love thee! (Philip, Laine)Arthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, Toby Spence, Elin Manahan Thomas
The Beauty Stone: Act II, Scene 1: I'll tell them what thou wast when first I knew thee (Guntran)Arthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, David Stout
The Beauty Stone: Act II, Scene 1: How say you? Shame! My sword! my sword! (Philip, Laine, Devil, Saida)Arthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, Toby Spence, Elin Manahan Thomas, Alan Opie, Rebecca Evans
The Beauty Stone: Act II, Scene 1: Nay, wert thou more than all he said thou art (Laine, Philip)Arthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, Toby Spence, Elin Manahan Thomas
The Beauty Stone: Act II, Scene 1: She's gone! Love's hour has come at last! (Saida, Devil, Philip)Arthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, Toby Spence, Alan Opie, Rebecca Evans
The Beauty Stone: Act II, Scene 1: Lords of Sirault, Velaines, and St Sauveur (Guntran, Three Lords, Philip, Chorus)Arthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, Toby Spence, David Stout, BBC National Chorus of Wales, Adrian Partington
The Beauty Stone: Act II, Scene 1: Change of SceneArthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales
The Beauty Stone: Act II, Scene 2: Look yon, 'tis she! our little Laine! (Joan, Laine, Simon)Arthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, Stephen Gadd, Catherine Wyn-Rogers, Elin Manahan Thomas
The Beauty Stone: Act II, Scene 2: I would see a maid who dwells in Zolden (Simon, Joan)Arthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, Stephen Gadd, Catherine Wyn-Rogers
The Beauty Stone: Act II, Scene 2: Haste thee! Haste thee! (Devil, Laine, Joan, Saida, Simon)Arthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, Stephen Gadd, Catherine Wyn-Rogers, Elin Manahan Thomas, Alan Opie, Rebecca Evans
The Beauty Stone: Act II, Scene 3: Up and down (Jacqueline, Devil)Arthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, Madeleine Shaw, Alan Opie
The Beauty Stone: Act II, Scene 3: Finale. There he stands, that lord ye knew (Guntran, Philip, Chorus)Arthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, Toby Spence, David Stout, BBC National Chorus of Wales, Adrian Partington
The Beauty Stone: Act II, Scene 3: Finale. My lord! (Laine, Philip, Joan, Chorus)Arthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, Toby Spence, Catherine Wyn-Rogers, Elin Manahan Thomas, BBC National Chorus of Wales, Adrian Partington
The Beauty Stone: Act III, Scene 1: Introduction - An hour agone 'twas the moon that shone (Laine)Arthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, Elin Manahan Thomas
The Beauty Stone: Act III, Scene 1: Why dost thou sigh and moan? (Jacqueline)Arthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, Madeleine Shaw
The Beauty Stone: Act III, Scene 1: Mine, mine at last! Poor vanquished slave, begone! (Saida)Arthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, Rebecca Evans
The Beauty Stone: Act III, Scene 1: So all is lost for ever! And 'twas thou (Saida, Devil)Arthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, Rebecca Evans, Alan Opie
The Beauty Stone: Act III, Scene 1: Change of SceneArthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales
The Beauty Stone: Act III, Scene 2: O'er Mirlemont city the banners are flying (Chorus)Arthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, BBC National Chorus of Wales, Adrian Partington
The Beauty Stone: Act III, Scene 2: Exit of Guntran and CrowdArthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales
The Beauty Stone: Act III, Scene 2: Finale. Hail to the lord of our land! (Guntran, Joan, Laine, Simon, Jacqueline, Philip, Devil, Chorus)Arthur Sullivan, Rory Macdonald, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, Toby Spence, David Stout, Stephen Gadd, Catherine Wyn-Rogers, Elin Manahan Thomas, Alan Opie
Arthur Sullivan, born in London in 1842, was a prolific English composer whose name is synonymous with the golden age of Victorian comic opera. His most enduring legacy is his collaboration with the librettist W. S. Gilbert, with whom he created a series of wildly popular and enduring Savoy Operas, including "H.M.S. Pinafore," "The Pirates of Penzance," and "The Mikado." These works, known for their wit, satire, and memorable tunes, remain staples of the operatic repertoire and have been performed and enjoyed by audiences worldwide. Beyond his operatic collaborations, Sullivan's compositions span a wide range of genres, including symphonies, concertos, choral works, hymns, and songs. His hymns, such as "Onward, Christian Soldiers," have become beloved standards in churches and concert halls alike. Sullivan's musical style, characterized by its lyrical melodies and inventive harmonies, reflects his deep understanding of both classical and popular music traditions. His contributions to music have left an indelible mark on the cultural landscape, and his works continue to captivate and inspire audiences today.
Vinylscout
Arthur Sullivan
