Classical Preview: G & S lovers get ready for rare trip to Utopia

Next week Buxton is taken over by hoards of Gilbert and Sullivan fans who arrive from all parts of the world to gorge themselves on the largest annual extravaganza of G & S operettas.
By David Denton
Published 29th Jul 2011, 11:11 BST

Forty-nine full scale productions are performed in Buxton’s Opera House and Pavilion Arts Centre squeezed into three weeks, with the star-studded Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company offering four productions including the third professional UK production over the past 100 years of Utopia, Limited.

The Pirates of Penzance, in a new production from the American director Gary Slavin, Ruddigore and The Yeomen of the Guard are packed with the company’s most celebrated singers including Simon Butteriss, Richard Gauntlett, Rebecca Rottone and Donald Maxwell.

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The highly popular young professional, Charles Court Opera, bring their traditional view of the triple bill, Trial by Jury, Cox and Box and The Zoo, while no festival would seem complete without the irreverent Opera della Luna. This year they take untold liberties with The Sorcerer, updating it to the 1960s and the hippy era. Laughter is guaranteed (Aug 16).

The festival does not forget its roots in the many amateur companies who compete for the annual award of the most outstanding performance. This year it will include the G & S Victoria who are travelling from Australia to present their version of The Yeoman of the Guard (Aug 18), and by way of something different, Lionel Monckton’s The Arcadians (Aug 13).

G&S International Festival, Buxton, Jul 30-Aug 20, 0845 127 2190. For details see Classical Listings.

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