Saturday Matinee

Saturday Matinee - 30 May 2026

13:00 BORODIN AND COLLEAGUES Part 5 Prepared by Paul Cooke With Geza Karacsony Rimsky-Korsakov, N. Suite from Sadko, op 5 (1867). Bergen PO/Dmitri Kitaienko. Chandos CHAN 9229 [13:10] Borodin, A. Quintet in C minor (1862). Ilona Prunyi, pf; New Budapest String Quartet. Marco Polo 8.223172 [22:56] Balakirev, M. Symphonic poem: Tamara (1867-82). BBC PO/Vassily Sinaisky. Chandos CHAN 9727 [20:45] Borodin, A. Symphony no 2 in B minor (1869-76). Czecho-Slovak RSO/Stephen Gunzenhauser. Naxos 8.550238 [25:22] 14:30 SATURDAY MATINEE Operetta in the afternoon Prepared and presented by Angela Cockburn Sullivan, A. Cox and Box. Operetta in one act. Libretto by W.S. Gilbert. First performed London, 1867. COX: Alan Styler, bar BOUNCER: Donald Adams, bass BOX: Joseph Riordan, ten New SO of London/Isidore Godfrey. Decca 417 355-2 [29:29] Retired military man, Sergeant Bouncer, has double-let an apartment to both James John Cox, a hatter, who works days, and John James Box, a printer, who works nights. Bouncer swaps over their personal belongings in the brief gap when neither man is home, so neither knows about the other, although they sometimes pass on the stairs, and Cox is suspicious because the room often reeks of tobacco and he wonders why his groceries keep disappearing. Once Cox has left for work, Bouncer rearranges everything before Box arrives, settles in and sets his dinner to cook while he takes a nap. Cox has scored an unexpected day off, arrives home, removes what he takes for Bouncer's food and puts his own meal on to cook. There's a flurry of farcical action as each man repeatedly discards the other's food, before the two men suddenly come face to face. After some discussion they agree that this is all Bouncer's fault and make friends with each other. As they chat, they discover that Cox's fiancée, Penelope Anne, whom he'd rather like to ditch, also happens to be Box's ex-fiancée, whom he has already ditched by faking his suicide. They gamble to decide who should NOT get the girl, but both men use loaded dice. A series of contradictory letters arrive which resolve to show Penelope Anne had married someone else, a Mr. Knox. Cox and Box decide they must be long-lost brothers and, as such, they agree to share the apartment. Sullivan, A. The Yeomen of the Guard. Operetta in two acts. Libretto by W.S. Gilbert. First performed London, 1888. Sullivan, A. The Yeomen of the Guard, Act I [54:43] Sullivan, A. The Yeomen of the Guard, Act II [35:06] COLONEL FAIRFAX: Neill Archer, ten WILFRED SHADBOLT: Donald Maxwell, bass PHOEBE MERYLL: Pamela Helen Stephen, sop LEONARD MERYLL: Peter Hoare, ten SERGEANT MERYLL: Donald Adams, bass ELSIE MAYNARD: Alwyn Mellor, sop JACK POINT: Richard Suart, bass Welsh National Opera Ch & O/Charles Mackerras. Telarc 2CD-80404 Colonel Fairfax is to be beheaded that day for the crime of sorcery. Wilfred, the head gaoler at the Tower of London, is in love with Phoebe. Phoebe’s brother, Leonard, has been appointed a Yeoman of the Guard. Their father, Sergeant Merryll, is anxious to rescue Fairfax who had twice saved his life in battle. He plans that Phoebe will get the key to the Fairfax’s cell from Wilfred, while Leonard and Fairfax will exchange identities. The charge of sorcery against Fairfax was made by his wicked cousin, Sir Clarence Poltwhistle, who will inherit his estate if he dies unmarried. Before he dies, Fairfax asks that he be allowed to marry any available woman who will receive 100 crowns for her assistance. His request is granted. A young singer, Elsie, needs money to buy medicine for her ailing mother. She is offered the chance to earn 100 crowns for marrying the condemned man. Her companion, a jester, Jack Point, wishes to marry Elsie but is assured that she will be widowed very quickly. Elsie is blindfolded and led off for the secret ceremony. Meanwhile Phoebe distracts Wilfred and steals his keys which she gives to her father who goes to free Fairfax. Sergeant Meryll disguises Fairfax as his son Leonard. All is ready for the execution. Wilfred, Fairfax (disguised as Leonard) and two Yeomen go to fetch Fairfax. They return and Fairfax announces his own disappearance. Point is distraught at the escape of Elsie's husband, Wilfred is blamed, and all rush off to hunt for Fairfax. Jack Point reveals the secret wedding to Wilfred and convinces him to swear that he shot Fairfax dead as he swam across the river to escape. Wilfred agrees to save his own skin. Fairfax discovers the identity of his secret bride and, disguised as Leonard, attempts to woo her but is rejected. He is about to reveal himself when a shot is heard. Wilfred and Point declare that Wilfred has shot Fairfax so Point asks Elsie to marry him. Fairfax (still disguised as Leonard) instructs Point in the art of wooing but it soon becomes clear that he is wooing Elsie for himself and Elsie is responding. Angry and hurt, Phoebe inadvertently reveals to Wilfred that ‘Leonard’ is in fact Fairfax. In her remorse, she agrees to marry Wilfred if he remains silent. The real Leonard then returns and announces that a reprieve has come for Fairfax. When Elsie arrives for her wedding to ‘Leonard’, she learns that Fairfax lives. Fairfax arrives but the distraught Elsie does not turn to see his face. He keeps up the pretence until Elsie begs for her freedom to go to ‘Leonard’ but he refuses. Finally Elsie turns to see his face and finally recognises him. Everyone is happy except the broken-hearted Jack Point. Sullivan, A. Excerpts from Patience (1881). Yvonne Dean, sop; Margaret Mitchell, sop; Ella Halman, mezz; Ann Drummond-Grant, cont; Neville Griffiths, ten; Martyn Green, bar; Peter Pratt, bar; Darrell Fancourt, bass-bar; Alan Styler, bass; D’Oyly Carte Opera Company Ch; New Promenade O/Isidore Godfrey. Naxos 8.111311/12 [15:43]

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