Gilbert And Sullivan Collection 11 DVD box set [2014]

Superb value and lovely to have all the Savoy Operas in one package. OK, there are probably better productions out there; some of the performances, filmed in TV close-up, seem a bit hammy (but thats like filming a play really); some of the singing could be better, and there are CDs with better orchestration and reproduction. But these operas are so much fun, in so complete and compact a package, that 5stars is the very lowest rating I could possibly give! So glad to have them and many thx to all involved

This is very good for the on-offer price of £20 for 11 lively well-staged and well-directed 1980's G&S recordings plus "Cox & Box". The inclusion of the last highlights the virtuosity of Gilbert's librettos by comparison; Burnand doesn't have WSG's way with words . Sullivan's Overture De Ballo works well in front of "Trial By Jury".The singing ability of the celebrity principals varies but it is marvelous to encounter Vincent Price as Sir Despard Murgatroyd. Some feature former D'Oyly Carte Company stalwart Donald Adams in classic roles. Cast lists and libretti can be accessed on line .The energetic chorus is consistently excellent for both music and movement.Not all the G&S canon is included but how many productions of "Thespis", "Utopia Ltd" or "The Grand Duke" have there ever been, and would you want to see them for any reason other than curiosity?The picture on box seems to be Carte and Sullivan - what happened to WSG?You can skip introductions by Douglas Fairbanks Jnr.Well worth the money!

As others have said, you have to buy this set for the value alone. Some of the productions are better than others, and the visual style is very much in the TV studio drama tradition, a virtually obsolete format. It's a shame, for instance, that the very imaginative Ruddigore did not have the benefit of later technical advances and CGI. But the sets are often lavish, and the costumes and choreography very impressive. The acting is of a surprisingly high standard. The actors are able to speak naturalistically and briskly rather than having to project into an auditorium. Delivered in this way, the comedy works very well. On stage, you often have the awful booming style of speech delivery characteristic of Savoyards struggling with Gilbert's verbose and stilted dialogue.Yeoman of the Guard and Princess Ida are particularly fine. Patience is very good, but a better version of the same production (with a live audience) can be found in the Australian Opera set, which also has subtitles. These are sadly lacking in this collection, but what a difference they can make to the enjoyment of Gilbert's dazzling lyrics.

In these days of lock down light entertainment is essential and these dvds are offering respite from the eternal doom and gloom. I love G&S and these recordings are good. Afficionados will probably find fault, they aren't Doyly Carte after all, but they are pretty good. Great value for money too.

Despite the age of these videos studio productions they are remarkably good in terms of both sound and image. Some of the finest artists of the time and such directors as Wendy Toye ensure first rate renderings of these musical gems. Some of the negative reviews on this page either are referring to other dvd offerings or are just plain misguided. No, don’t expect the detail of modern-day hi-def productions but believe me, these dvd’s are darn good!

Good value for money - I paid about £10 for the 11 DVD set - but I wouldn't have wanted to pay a lot more because the productions are different in quality. Frankie Howard is great, but he is only in 2 of the operas. The Mikado is a mess. On the whole the music is well played and the singers / actors are enjoying themselves. The sets are rather good, in the old-fashioned way they used to do this sort of thing on TV - particularly HMS Pinafore.

A nice set of DVDs presumably re-worked from the 1982 (Probably VHS) tape recordings, or the masters thereof, but nothing like the video resolution achieved today. Sadly the audio resolution isn't brilliant either, although my own hearing isn't too good so that remark may not be entirely fair.The shows themselves are of a good standard with an introduction and inter-act comments by Douglas Fairbanks Jr.These DVDs are in the old (approximately) 5x4 aspect ratio format and play on today's wide screen TVs in that format. This 11 DVD set is packaged in a single sturdy box which came well packed.Poppa.

My four stars is because I mistakenly thought this would be similar to the original G &S theatre stage productions. This is set in what look like studio staged sets but that are still very good to look at & listen to. It’s a real trip down memory lane having much missed being able to go to the theatre to see these comic operas.