Notes from the Creative Team of The Pirates of Penzance
A Note from the Conductor
by Darryl Archibald
Welcome to an evening of pure operatic magic.
Gilbert and Sullivan’s comedic opera, The Pirates of Penzance, has delighted audiences since its premiere in 1879. But don’t let the “comedic” label fool you! Gilbert and Sullivan, or “G & S” for those in the know, were very serious in the way they crafted their operas. The technical skills required of the singers and musicians in The Pirates of Penzance are comparable to those of most grand operas. And the marriage of music and lyrics is sheer perfection.
Gilbert and Sullivan also made sure there was something for everyone to enjoy. For the novice who simply wants to hear great music, there are gorgeous melodies and witty lyrics. For our Anglophiles and history buffs, there are plenty of veiled (and not-so-veiled) Victorian-era political references. And for the opera aficionados, there are shimmering coloratura flourishes, soaring tenor notes, and a few hilarious send-ups of the popular grand opera of the time. (Listen for the spot-on parody of “The Anvil Chorus” from Verdi’s Il trovatore.)
So, get comfortable in your seat and enjoy Opera Theatre’s presentation of The Pirates of Penzance.
Verdi’s “Anvil Chorus” from Il trovatore depicts the quiet breaking of dawn, yet it’s famously thunderous and rousing. Gilbert & Sullivan spoofed this contrast in “With Cat‑Like Tread,” an equally bombastic number in which pirates loudly insist on their own stealth.
A Note from the Director
by Seán Curran
It is an honor and a joy to be invited back to OTSL to direct The Pirates of Penzance, a production for which I first began work in 2013. Since then, I’ve directed Pirates for companies all over the United States, including The Atlanta Opera, Glimmerglass Festival in New York, San Diego Opera, Seattle Opera, and more. But there’s something very special about being part of this staging in St. Louis.
Gilbert and Sullivan are often dismissed as unserious, but their work has slyly embedded itself into our culture for the past 150 years, referenced in everything from hit movies to popular literature. In truth, The Pirates of Penzance is highly complex, requiring top vocal chops, impeccable comedic timing, and onstage agility to do it well. We’re lucky to experience the incredible talents of this OTSL cast, who make it all look easy.
Now, more than ever, we need humor to nourish our souls and lift our spirits. Fortunately, this enduring, whimsical operetta delivers laughter in abundance. The Pirates of Penzance has something for everyone: music that tickles the ear and creates a motor for sumptuous dancing, physical comedy that tugs at your heart, and generous characters who prevail against hilarious, impossible odds.
A classic in every sense, it reminds us that love conquers all.
Get your tickets for The Pirates of Penzance today!
Leadership support comes from the Berges Family Foundation, The William T. Kemper Foundation, Lori & Ted Samuels, and Roma B. Wittcoff.
The Pirates of Penzance is supported by a gift honoring the memory of Sally S. Levy from The Saucy Foundation.
Opera Theatre dedicates this production to the memory of Virginia “Jinny” Jackson Browning.
Pride Night at the Opera is generously sponsored by Ameren.
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