CHESTER CHOIR INVITE GILBERT AND SULLIVAN FANS TO JOIN SPECIAL WORKSHOP

One of Chester's top choirs are inviting fans of the music of celebrated composers Gilbert and Sullivan to take part in a brand-new workshop which will showcase one of their most popular comic operas.

Staged by Chester Bach Singers, the workshop entitled "Come and Sing Iolanthe" will take place at All Saints Church in Hoole, Chester on Saturday 13^th May between 12.45pm and 5.30pm. Led by popular conductor Martin Bussey, the workshop will give participants the opportunity to study the songs from the show and sing them alongside members of Chester Bach Singers before performing in an informal concert which will be open to members of the public.

First performed in 1882, Iolanthe is a comic opera with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It is one of the Savoy operas and is the seventh of fourteen operatic collaborations by Gilbert and Sullivan. In the opera, the fairy Iolanthe has been banished from fairyland because she married a mortal; this is forbidden by fairy law. Her son, Strephon, is an Arcadian shepherd who wants to marry Phyllis, a Ward of Chancery. All the members of the House of Peers also want to marry Phyllis. When Phyllis sees Strephon hugging a young woman (not knowing that it is his mother – immortal fairies all appear young), she assumes the worst and sets off a climactic confrontation between the peers and the fairies. The opera satirises many aspects of British government, law and society. The confrontation between the fairies and the peers is a version of one of Gilbert's favourite themes: a tranquil civilisation of women is disrupted by a male-dominated world through the discovery of mortal love.

Iolanthe opened in London on 25 November 1882, at the Savoy Theatre to a warm reception, and ran for 398 performances, the fourth consecutive hit by Gilbert and Sullivan. It was the first work to premiere at the Savoy (although Patience had transferred to the theatre in 1881) and was the first new theatre production in the world to be illuminated entirely with electric lights, permitting some special effects that had not been possible in the era of gas lighting. The opera opened simultaneously in New York, and touring companies were sent around the UK and US to play the piece. The first Australasian touring production followed in 1885, and the opera was revived in London beginning in 1901. The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company toured the opera nearly continuously in repertory from 1891 until 1982 and made several recordings of the opera over that period. Numerous other professional and amateur productions have been given of this enduring work, and various other recordings have been issued.

Speaking about the workshop, Helen Crich, chair of Chester Bach Singers said:

"We are delighted to be staging this special workshop which will provide an indepth look at one of Gilbert and Sullivan's most popular Operettas, an absolute must for all G&S fans. Why not join us and enjoy an afternoon singing Gilbert  and Sullivan led by our own Musical Director,  Martin Bussey, with some of our choir taking on solo roles and our regular accompanist, Catherine Barnett, at the piano. We will rehearse the music during the afternoon, taking an occasional break, and we will give performance of the full piece to end the day.  Any friends and family wanting to join us for the special evening performance will be able to purchase a ticket via our online box office."

Attendees are asked to bring their own cushion with them to make the church pews more comfortable and their own cup, mug or re-usable cup on the day. Chester Bach Singers famous cake selection will be served during the break between the workshop and public performance. 

Following on from the workshop, the group will be staging "Music from the 1940s" a celebration of the music of the World War Two era which takes place at The Wesley Centre in St John Street in Chester at 3pm on Saturday 10 June.

Full details of "Come and Sing Iolanthe" and "Music from the 1940s" and can be found at: 

www.chesterbachsingers.org.uk 

...where tickets can be booked online.