Composer

:

Arthur Sullivan

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Operetta

Compose Date

:

1896

Publication Date

:

1896

Average_duration

:

105:15

Movement_count

:

35

Movement ....

"Grand Duke" is an operetta composed by Arthur Sullivan, with a libretto by W. S. Gilbert. The plot revolves around a troupe of actors who accidentally find themselves in the middle of a political revolution in the fictional country of Pfennig-Halbpfennig. The operetta was composed in 1896, and premiered at the Savoy Theatre in London on March 7, 1896. The first act of "Grand Duke" introduces the audience to the troupe of actors, who are struggling to make ends meet. They decide to put on a performance for the Grand Duke of Pfennig-Halbpfennig, hoping to win his favor and secure a patronage. However, the Grand Duke is not impressed with their performance and orders them to leave the country. In the second act, the actors accidentally become embroiled in a political revolution, and are mistaken for conspirators. They are arrested and brought before the Grand Duke, who is now sympathetic to their plight. The Grand Duke offers to make one of the actors the ruler of Pfennig-Halbpfennig, in exchange for their help in quelling the revolution. The third act sees the actors attempting to rule the country, with predictably disastrous results. The revolutionaries eventually triumph, and the actors are forced to flee the country. "Grand Duke" is notable for its use of musical motifs, which recur throughout the operetta. The music is light and playful, with a number of catchy tunes that have become popular in their own right. The operetta also features a number of comic set pieces, including a scene in which the actors attempt to stage a play without any props or costumes. Overall, "Grand Duke" is a charming and entertaining operetta, with a witty libretto and memorable music. While it may not be as well-known as some of Sullivan and Gilbert's other works, it remains a beloved part of the operetta canon.

More....