The Mikado (Sullivan, Arthur)

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Performances

Recordings

Complete

Performer Pages Really Authentic Gilbert and Sullivan Performance Trust (company)
Dunedin Symphony Orchestra (orchestra)
Alan Spencer (stage director)
Michael Andrewes (conductor/musical director)
Sydney Manowitz (concertmaster)
Roger Wilson (The Mikado of Japan)
Dave Solomon (Ko-Ko)
Stephen Smith (Nanki-Poo)
Fiona Henry (Yum-Yum)
Peter Chin (Pooh-Bah)
Michael Gray (Pish-Tush)
Claire Barton (Katisha)
Sarah Oliver (Pitti-Sing)
Sophie Uden (Peep-Bo)
Publisher Info. Really Authentic Gilbert and Sullivan Performance Trust, 2007.
Copyright
Misc. Notes Recorded live, 2007. This is audio from a videotaped performance.
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Performer Pages Gilbert and Sullivan Operatic Society Dunedin (company)
Dunedin Symphony Orchestra (orchestra, as Dunedin Civic Orchestra)
Moira Fleming (producer)
Michael Andrewes (conductor/musical director)
Joan Gardiner (leader)
Brian Beresford (The Mikado of Japan)
Peter Chin (Nanki-Poo)
Peter Rowlands (Ko-Ko)
Noel Davie (Pooh-Bah)
Charles Levings (Pish-Tush)
Kathleen Padman (Yum-Yum)
Brenda Jones (Pitti-Sing)
Lyndal Howley (Peep-Bo)
Bertha Rawlinson (Katisha)
Publisher Info. RAGSPT Revisited, 2022.
Copyright
Misc. Notes Recorded live, 1974. This recording includes all the dialogue. Enquiries, comments or requests for a programme may be addressed to ragsptrevisited@gmail.com.
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Performer Pages Alexander Faris (Conductor)
Sadler's Wells Chorus and Orchestra (Chorus and Orchestra)
John @bass-baritone^ Holmes (The Mikado)
John Wakefield (Nanki-Poo)
Clive Revill (Ko-Ko)
Denis Dowling (Pooh-Bah)
John Heddle Nash (Pish-Tush)
Marion Studholme (Yum-Yum)
Patricia Kern (Pitti-Sing)
Dorothy Nash (Peep-Bo)
Jean Allister (Katisha)
Publisher Info. EMI, No.CSD1458/9, 1962.
Copyright
Misc. Notes Overture omitted, because the original (arranged by Hamilton Clarke) has been replaced with a new medley by Stephen Dodgson.
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Performer Pages Glyndebourne Festival Chorus (chorus)
Pro Arte Orchestra (orchestra)
Malcolm Sargent (conductor)
Owen Brannigan (The Mikado of Japan)
Richard Lewis (Nanki-Poo)
Geraint Evans (Ko-Ko)
Ian Wallace (Pooh-Bah)
John Cameron (Pish-Tush)
Elsie Morison (Yum-Yum)
Marjorie Thomas (Pitti-Sing)
Jeannette Sinclair (Peep-Bo)
Monica Sinclair (Katisha)
Publisher Info. HMV, December 1957.
Copyright
Misc. Notes This version was recorded after Rupert D'Oyly Carte changed the performance libretto to remove a racial epithet for black people. This non-D'Oyly Carte performance makes the now-customary change in "A more humane Mikado," but leaves "As someday it may happen" in its original state.
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4 more: Act I (cont.) • Act I (concl.) • Act II (pt.1) • Act II (concl.)

Performer Pages D'Oyly Carte Opera Company (soloists and chorus)
New Promenade Orchestra (orchestra)
Isidore Godfrey (conductor)
Darrell Fancourt (The Mikado of Japan)
Leonard Osborn (Nanki-Poo)
Martyn Green (Ko-Ko)
Richard Watson (Pooh-Bah)
Alan Styler (Pish-Tush)
L. Radley Flynn (Go-To)
Donald Harris (Go-To)
Margaret Mitchell (Yum-Yum)
Joan Gillingham (Pitti-Sing)
Joyce Wright (Peep-Bo)
Ella Halman (Katisha)
Publisher Info. London: London Records, 1950.
Copyright
Misc. Notes Flynn sings Go-To's solo line in Act I ("Why, who are you who ask this question") and Harris sings the bass part in the Act II madrigal. Source: Archive.org. Date per discogs.
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30 more: If you want to know who we are • A wand'ring minstrel I • Our great Mikado, virtuous man • Young man, despair • Behold the Lord High Executioner! • As someday it may happen • Comes a train of little ladies • Three little maids from school are we • So please you, Sir, we much regret • Were you not to Ko-Ko plighted • I am so proud • With aspect stern and gloomy stride • Your revels cease! • For he's going to marry Yum-Yum • The hour of gladness is dead and gone • Ye torrents roar! • Braid the raven hair • The sun whose rays are all ablaze • Brightly dawns our wedding day • Here's a how-de-do! • Mi-ya sa-ma • From ev'ry kind of man obedience I expect • A more humane Mikado • The criminal cried • See how the Fates their gifts allot • The flowers that bloom in the spring • Alone, and yet alive • On a tree by a river a little tom-tit • There is beauty in the bellow of the blast • For he's gone and married Yum-Yum

Performer Pages Isidore Godfrey (Conductor)
D'Oyly Carte Opera Company (Company)
Darrell Fancourt (The Mikado)
Derek Oldham (Nanki-Poo)
Martyn Green (Ko-Ko)
Sydney Granville (Pooh-Bah)
Leslie Rands (Pish-Tush)
L. Radley Flynn (Go-To)
Brenda Bennett (Yum-Yum)
Marjorie Eyre (Pitti-Sing)
Elizabeth Nickell-Lean (Peep-Bo)
Josephine Curtis (Katisha)
Publisher Info. HMV, No.DB4038/48, 1936.
Copyright
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33 more: If you want to know who we are • Gentlemen, I pray you tell me • A wand'ring minstrel I • Our great Mikado, virtuous man • Young man, despair • And have I journeyed a month, or nearly • Behold the Lord High Executioner • As some day it may happen that a victim must be found • Comes a train of little ladies • Three little maids from school are we • So please you, Sir, we much regret • Were you not to Ko-Ko plighted • I am so proud • With aspect stern and gloomy stride • The threatened cloud has passed away • Your revels cease • For he's going to marry Yum-Yum • The hour of gladness is dead and gone • Ye torrents roar • Braid the raven hair • The sun whose rays are all ablaze • Brightly dawns our wedding day • Here's a how-de-do • Mi-ya sa-ma • From every kind of man obedience I expect • A more humane Mikado • The criminal cried • See how the Fates their gifts allot • The flowers that bloom in the spring • Alone, and yet alive • On a tree by a river a little tom-tit • There is beauty in the bellow of the blast • For he's gone and married Yum-Yum

Performer Pages D'Oyly Carte Opera Company (Company)
Harry Norris (Conductor)
Darrell Fancourt (The Mikado)
Derek Oldham (Nanki-Poo)
Henry Lytton (Ko-Ko)
Leo Sheffield (Pooh-Bah)
George Baker (Pish-Tush)
T. Penry Hughes (Go-To)
Elsie Griffin (Yum-Yum)
Aileen Davies (Pitti-Sing – partial)
Doris Hemingway (Pitti-Sing — partial)
Beatrice Elburn (Pitti Sing — partial / Peep-Bo)
Bertha Lewis (Katisha)
Publisher Info. HMV, No.D1172/82, 1927.
Copyright
Misc. Notes Recorded November 8 – December 6, 1926.
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Performer Pages Mayfair Chorus (chorus)
Mayfair Orchestra (orchestra)
George W. Byng (conductor)
Arthur Wood (conductor)
Robert Radford (The Mikado of Japan/Pooh-Bah/Pish-Tush)
John Harrison (Nanki-Poo/Pooh-Bah)
George Baker (Ko-Ko/Pish-Tush)
Ernest Pike (Pish-Tush)
Violet Essex (Yum-Yum)
Bessie Jones (Yum-Yum/Pitti-Sing/Peep-Bo)
Violet Oppenshaw (Pitti-Sing/Peep-Bo)
Edna Thornton (Pitti-Sing/Katisha)
Publisher Info. HMV, 1917.
Performers Byng conducts all numbers except "As someday it may happen," which is conducted by Wood. Most parts are played by multiple performers. For the parts played by mulitple performers, they are indicated as follows:
Nanki-Poo: "Brightly dawns" — Pike / Otherwise — Harrison
Pooh-Bah: "See how the fates" — Harrison / Otherwise — Radford
Pish-Tush: "Our great Mikado," "So please you, sir" — Baker / "I am so proud" — Pike / "Brightly dawns" — Radford
Yum-Yum: "Brightly dawns" — Jones / Otherwise — Essex
Pitti-Sing: "Braid the raven hair" — Oppenshaw / "See how the fates" — Jones / Otherwise — Thornton
Peep-Bo: "Three little maids" — Oppenshaw / "So please you, sir" — Peep-Bo
Copyright
Misc. Notes Transferred by Robert Fells and automatically processed with Magix software.
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Performer Pages Harry Dearth (The Mikado of Japan)
Walter Hyde (Nanki-Poo)
Walter Passmore (Ko-Ko)
Harry Thornton (Pooh-Bah)
Harry Dearth (Pooh-Bah)
Harry Dearth (Pish-Tush)
Elsa Sinclair (Yum-Yum)
Ada Florence (Pitti-Sing)
Maude Perry (Peep-Bo)
Ada Florence (Katisha)
Publisher Info. Odeon, 1908.
Copyright
Misc. Notes Harry Thornton sings Pooh-Bah in "See how the fates" and "The flowers that bloom in the spring." Harry Dearth sings Pooh-Bah on all other sides. More information from Marc Shepherd. Conductor, orchestra and chorus not credited.
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Naxos

Sheet Music

Full Scores

Publisher. Info. Holograph manuscript, n.d.[1885].
Copyright
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Publisher. Info. Leipzig: Bosworth & Co., n.d.(1893-98).
Reprinted New York: E.F. Kalmus, n.d.(1985). Catalog A2281.
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Parts

11 more: Oboe • Clarinet 1/2 (A/B♭) • Bassoon • Horn 1/2 (F) • Cornet 1/2 (A/B♭) • Trombone 1/2 • Timpani/Bass Drum/Cymbals/Triangle/Snare Drum • Violins I • Violins II • Violas • Cellos/Basses

Publisher. Info. London: Chappell, n.d.
London: D'Oyly Carte Opera Co., n.d.
Copyright
Misc. Notes D'Oyly Care hire parts
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11 more: Oboe • Clarinet 1/2 (A/B♭) • Bassoon • Horn 1/2 (F) • Cornet 1/2 (A/B♭) • Trombone 1/2 • Timpani/Bass Drum/Cymbals/Triangle/Snare Drum • Violins I • Violins II • Violas • Cellos/Basses

Publisher. Info. London: Chappell, n.d.
London: D'Oyly Carte Opera Co., n.d.
Reprinted New York: E.F. Kalmus, n.d.(1985). Catalog A2281.
Copyright
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Vocal Scores

Complete

Arranger George Lowell Tracy (1855–1921), piano reduction
Editor First edition (reprint)
Publisher. Info. London: Chappell, n.d.[1885].
Reprinted New York: William A. Pond & Co., 1885.
Copyright
Misc. Notes This file is part of the Sibley Mirroring Project.
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Arranger George Lowell Tracy (1855–1921), piano reduction
Language English
Publisher. Info. New York: William A. Pond & Co., 1885*. Plate 13809.
Copyright
Misc. Notes *1885 is the date of copyright claim. This re-engraving of the score was probably issued sometime after 1900.
This file is part of the Sibley Mirroring Project.
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Arranger George Lowell Tracy (1855–1921), piano reduction
Editor Bryceson Treharne (1879–1948)
Publisher. Info. New York: G. Schirmer, n.d.(ca.1940). Plate 38309.
Copyright
Misc. Notes This score contains all the dialogue. Published without a copyright notice.
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Selections

Publisher. Info. New York: M. Witmark & Sons, 1925. Plate 17059-17.
Copyright
Misc. Notes This file is part of the Submission Project.
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Editor GurtLush Choir
Publisher. Info. GurtLush Arrangements
Copyright
Misc. Notes Pages set up in booklet (imposition) order, 2-up, for printing. High Quality
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Arranger Herbert Wallace (fl.1885-1915)
Publisher. Info. Gems from 'The Mikado' Arranged for the Piano-Forte
New York: Richard A. Saalfield, 1886.
Copyright
Misc. Notes This file is part of the Submission Project.
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Editor Ian Toombs (with thanks to Sam @ GurtLush Arrangements)
Publisher. Info. Stephen Lawrence, 2022.
Copyright
Misc. Notes Repaginated and enlarged from GurtLush Ed. - lower resolution
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Arrangements and Transcriptions

Complete

For Piano (Tracy)
Arranger George Lowell Tracy (1855–1921)
Publisher. Info. London: Chappell & Co., n.d.[1886]. Plate C.C. 18056-18057.
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Misc. Notes Uploader's personal copy.
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For Piano
Arranger Unknown
Publisher. Info. Vienna: Jos. Weinberger, n.d. Plate W. & H. 91 & 93.
Copyright
Misc. Notes This file is part of the Sibley Mirroring Project.
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Selections

For Theatre Orchestra (Tobani)
Arranger Theodore Moses Tobani (1855–1933)
Publisher. Info. Carl Fischer's Theatre Orchestra Edition, No.60
New York: Carl Fischer, 1913. Plate 1500-64.
Copyright
Misc. Notes This file is part of the Submission Project.
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13 more: Flute/Piccolo • Oboe • Clarinet 1, 2 (A) • Bassoon • Horn 1, 2 (F) • Cornet 1, 2 (A) • Trombone • Timpani/Bass Drum/Snare Drum/Cymbals • Violins I • Violins II • Violas • Cellos • Basses

Arranger Theodore Moses Tobani (1855–1933)
Publisher. Info. Carl Fischer's Theatre Orchestra Edition, No.60
New York: Carl Fischer, 1913. Plate 1500-64.
Reprinted Miami: Edwin F. Kalmus, n.d.(1971-87). Catalog A6920.
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For Theater Orchestra (Wiegand)
For Theatre Orchestra (Winterbottom)
Arranger Frank Winterbottom (1861–1930)
Publisher. Info. London: Chappell, n.d. Plate 18064.
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Misc. Notes "The Mikado Selection" Fl and Picc, Oboe I & II, Clar I & II (b flat), Fag I & II, Horns I & II (e flat), Horns III & IV (e flat), Cornets I & II (b flat)
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For Piano 4 Hands (Blake)
See: Potpourri on 'The Mikado' (Blake, Charles Dupee)
For Piano
See: Theaterrevuen (No.42)

Choruses

For Male Chorus and 2 Pianos (Davison)
Arranger Archibald Thompson Davison (1883–1961)
Publisher. Info. The Concord Series: Harvard University Glee Club Collection of Part Songs for Men's Voices, No.946
Boston: E.C. Schirmer Music Co., 1930. Plate E.C.S. No.685.
Copyright
Misc. Notes This file is part of the Indianapolis Maennerchor Archive.
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Fantasia

For Violin and Piano (Farmer)
Arranger Henry Farmer (1819–1891)
Publisher. Info. London: Chappell, n.d.[ca.1900]. Plate 18068.
Copyright
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I've Got Him on the List (As Someday It May Happen)

For Voice and Piano
Arranger Cramer (possibly Henri Cramer or Cramer - Pseudonym)
Publisher. Info. Philadelphia: W.F. Shaw, 1885.
Copyright
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Brightly Dawns Our Wedding Day

For Horn, Trumpet and Euphonium (Messerschmidt)
Arranger Hans Jorgen Messerschmidt (b. 1944)
Publisher. Info. Hans Jorgen Messerschmidt, 2017.
Copyright
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Behold the Lord High Executioner

For Brass Band

10 more: Cornets 1 (B♭) • Cornets 2 (B♭) • Flugelhorn (B♭) • Tenor Horn 1/2 (E♭) • Baritone Horn 1/2 • Tenor Trombone 1/2 • Bass Trombone • Cymbals/Bass Drum/Woodblock • Euphonium 1/2 • Tuba 1/2

Arranger Duncan Fyfe Gillies (b. 1949)
Publisher. Info. Duncan Fyfe Gillies, 2020.
Copyright
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The Flowers that Bloom in the Spring

For Piano (Trinkaus)
Arranger George John Trinkaus (1878–1960)
Publisher. Info. Philadelphia: Morris Music Co., 1910.
Copyright
Misc. Notes This file is part of the Submission Project.
This item, which is in the public domain in its country of origin, is likewise in the public domain in countries which apply the rule of the shorter term. All EU countries apply the rule of the shorter term in general.
Note that in some cases this rule may be overridden by a treaty with the source country (especially the United States) and/or may not apply to works which fell into the public domain in their source country due to a failure to renew copyright or comply with other formalities.
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Libretti

Language German/English
Translator Siegfried Ehrenberg (as C. Carlotta)
Publisher. Info. Berlin: R. Boll, n.d.(1886).
Copyright
Misc. Notes Bilingual edition. There are many errors in the English version. The translator was the organizer of the first German tour of the opera.
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Language German
Publisher. Info. London: Bosworth & Co., n.d.
Copyright
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General Information

Work Title The Mikado
Alternative. Title The Town of Titipu
Name Translations Der Mikado; Mikadon; El Mikado; ミカド; أوبرا ميكادو; [9 more...]미카도; Микадо; 帝王 (1939年電影); 帝王 (1939年电影); 米卡多; میکادو; המיקאדו; اوبرا ميكادو; Mikado (operetka)
Name Aliases The Mikado (opérette); Three Little Maids from School; The mikado; El mikado; ミカド (喜歌劇); [3 more...]日本天皇 (歌劇); 帝王; 日本天皇
Authorities WorldCat; Wikipedia; VIAF: 2311147270547335700006; LCCN: n82227762; GND: 300159099; BNF: 139200534
Composer Sullivan, Arthur
I-Catalogue NumberI-Cat. No. IAS 86
Movements/SectionsMov'ts/Sec's 2 acts
Year/Date of CompositionY/D of Comp. 1885
First Performance. 1885-03-14 in London, Savoy Theatre.
D'Oyly Carte Opera Company ; Sir Arthur Sullivan (conductor)
First Publication. 1885 (vocal score); 1893? (full score)
  • Vocal score (London: Chappell & Co.), 152 pages
  • Full score (Leipzig: Bosworth & Co.), 333 pages
Librettist William Schwenck Gilbert (1836–1911)
Language English
Composer Time PeriodComp. Period Romantic
Piece Style Romantic
Instrumentation voices, mixed chorus (SATB), orchestra
InstrDetail [more...]
Cast
The Mikado of Japan (bass or bass-baritone)
Nanki-Poo, His Son, disguised as a wandering minstrel and in love with Yum-Yum (tenor)
Ko-Ko, The Lord High Executioner of Titipu (comic baritone)
Pooh-Bah, Lord High Everything Else (baritone)
Pish-Tush, A Noble Lord (baritone)
Go-To, A Noble Lord (bass-baritone)
Yum-Yum, A Ward of Ko-Ko, also engaged to Ko-Ko (soprano)
Pitti-Sing, A Ward of Ko-Ko (mezzo-soprano)
Peep-Bo, A Ward of Ko-Ko (soprano or mezzo-soprano)
Katisha, An Elderly lady, in love with Nanki-Poo (contralto)

Mixed Chorus (SATB)

School-Girls, Nobles, Guards and Coolies

Orchestra

2 flutes (2nd also piccolo), oboe, 2 clarinets, bassoon
2 horns, 2 cornets, 2 trombones
timpani, bass drum, cymbals, triangle, snare drum, strings
Related Works Pieces based on 'The Mikado'
Discography Gilbert & Sullivan Discography
External Links Wikipedia article; Gilbert & Sullivan Archive
Extra Information There is some confusion about the actual date of issue for the Bosworth full score. The entry for this work (p.577) in James Fuld's The Book of World-Famous Music mentions an issue of 25 copies from Bosworth as early as 1893, despite the given date of 1898 in the biography by Arthur Lawrence published in 1899. The entry in Monatsbericht (1900), p.03 (October) is likewise mentioned, though this seems late.

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