Gilbert & Sullivan: Ruddigore

The recording of Ohio Light Opera's 2009 production of Ruddigore is of special interest because it includes the spoken dialogue and because of the quality of several of the soloists' performances. The inclusion of the dialogue is always risky when non-British performers are involved, but the actors here pull it off admirably, and in several cases, with real panache and giddy humor. Generally, the dialogue is more consistently delivered than the singing, which is always at least adequate, but of variable quality. There are ... Read More

The recording of Ohio Light Opera's 2009 production of Ruddigore is of special interest because it includes the spoken dialogue and because of the quality of several of the soloists' performances. The inclusion of the dialogue is always risky when non-British performers are involved, but the actors here pull it off admirably, and in several cases, with real panache and giddy humor. Generally, the dialogue is more consistently delivered than the singing, which is always at least adequate, but of variable quality. There are very fine performances by Gilbert and Sullivan veteran baritone Frederick Reeder, and capable newcomers, mezzo-soprano Sahara Glasener-Boles, baritone Ted Christopher, and soprano Cecily Ellis. Michael Borowitz's frequently sluggish conducting misses the fun of the variety of moods that Sullivan's score offers and doesn't provide the drama it requires. He is hampered (as Ohio Light Opera recordings tend to be) by having a reduced string section to work with, which sounds feeble and... Read Less