The First Night Gilbert and Sullivan. Containing Complete Librettos of the Fourteen Operas, Exactly as Presented at Their Première Performances; Together with Facsimiles of the First-night Programmes. Edited, with a Prologue ... by Reginald Allen; and a Foreword by Bridget D'Oyly Carte. Illustrated, Etc
註釋 How many have dreamed enviously, as I have, of those incredible occasions, the first-night performances of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas! Oh, to have savored just once with those fortunate few this veritable quintessence of the Victorian Era! Never before in recorded time, and never since, has civilization provided the stellar phenomenon of the leading wit and dramatist, the leading composer, and the leading impresario in happy conjunction. The Gilbert and Sullivan method of collaboration appears to have followed the following pattern: first the author described to the composer his idea for a plot, or he read him a plot outline. Then, if Sullivan responded with enthusiasm, Gilbert wrote out a complete story-line, without dialog and without lyrics. Next, working painstakingly through trial and error on scores of copy-book pages, he roughed out his libretto, including the lyrics, which he sent to Sullivan for setting as fast as they were finished. - Prologue. 