Composer

:

Arthur Sullivan

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Operetta

Compose Date

:

1879

Publication Date

:

1880

Average_duration

:

90:49

Movement_count

:

35

Movement ....

"The Pirates of Penzance" is a comic opera composed by Arthur Sullivan with a libretto by W.S. Gilbert. The opera premiered on December 31, 1879, at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in New York City. The plot revolves around Frederic, a young man who was mistakenly apprenticed to a band of pirates until his 21st birthday. Upon his release, he falls in love with Mabel, the daughter of Major-General Stanley, but his sense of duty to the pirates and their leader, the Pirate King, complicates matters. The opera is divided into two acts and features several memorable musical numbers, including "I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General" and "Poor Wand'ring One." The music is characterized by Sullivan's signature blend of catchy melodies and intricate harmonies, while Gilbert's witty and satirical lyrics poke fun at Victorian society and its conventions. "The Pirates of Penzance" was a commercial and critical success, and it quickly became one of Gilbert and Sullivan's most popular works. It was praised for its clever wordplay, memorable tunes, and colorful characters. The opera was also notable for its use of patter songs, which required the performers to sing rapid-fire lyrics with precise diction and timing. Over the years, "The Pirates of Penzance" has been adapted for film, television, and stage productions around the world. It has also been parodied and referenced in popular culture, cementing its place as a beloved classic of the operatic repertoire.

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