Here's A Howdy Do! Lovers, Rivals and Disguises

What a wonderful concert we had on Sunday 25th September featuring Lawrence Oslworth-Peter and Elinor Moran accompanied by Elspeth Wilkes. This event was originally scheduled to take place two years ago but was well worth the wait! We were treated to a lovely programme, including some favourite pieces from The Gondoliers, The Mikado and HMS Pinaforebut also some less familiar pieces from Ivanhoeand The Contrabandista. The quality of singing from both Lawrence and Elinor was inspirational but Elspeth also contributed a great deal, in her own right, for example with her playing of the Marriage of Figaro overture. She also revealed a fine bass baritone voice!

We were reminded of the sharp and enduring wit of WS Gilbert with the inclusion of some dialogue from the operas which was delivered really well by Elinor and Lawrence. The Little List, as performed by Lawrence, could also hardly have been more topical and was highly amusing. Neither shall we forget in a hurry the singing lesson from The Barber of Seville in which our own Laurence Leng had a “starring” role as the sleeping (and snoring!) doctor.

It was interesting to learn how each of the artistes came to a love of music and Gilbert and Sullivan in particular. Lawrence Olsworth-Peter, who hails from Sussex, had his G&S debut in the early 2000s with Haywards Heath Operatic Society playing Luiz in The Gondoliers which also featured his mother, Andrea, as the Duchess of Plaza-Toro, his father, James, in the chorus, and Bill Colbourne as the Duke of Plaza-Toro.

Lawrence, Elinor and Elspeth all gave us confidence in the future of Gilbert and Sullivan as an important and life-enhancing musical tradition.