This is a selected list of

W. S. Gilbert Sir William Schwenck Gilbert (18 November 1836 – 29 May 1911) was an English dramatist, librettist, poet and illustrator best known for his collaboration with composer Arthur Sullivan, which produced fourteen comic operas. The most f ...

's works, including all that have their own Wikipedia articles. For a complete list of Gilbert's dramatic works, see List of W. S. Gilbert dramatic works.

Poetry

* '' The Bab Ballads'', a collection of comic verse published roughly between 1865 and 1871 * ''Songs of a Savoyard'', London: George Routledge and Sons, 1890, a collection of Gilbert's song lyricsCrowther, Andrew
"Gilbert's Non-Dramatic Works"
, The W.S. Gilbert Society, accessed 13 September 2015

Selected short stories

* ''

Foggerty's Fairy and Other Tales ''Foggerty's Fairy and Other Tales'' is an 1890 book by W. S. Gilbert, collecting several of the short stories and essays he wrote in his early career as a magazine writer (before 1874). A number of them were later adapted as plays or opera libr ...

'', a collection of short stories and essays, mainly from before 1874. *
Links to several Gilbert stories
;Publications that include one or more of Gilbert's short stories that are not in ''Foggerty's Fairy and Other Tales'': *
''Belgravia''
vol. 2 (1867). “From St. Paul’s to Piccadilly,” pp. 67–74
''Fun''
vol. 1 new series (1865-1866) (several contributions by Gilbert; near end of volume, Fun Christmas Number 1865, with Gilbert’s “The Astounding Adventure of Wheeler J. Calamity,” pp. 17–18)
''London Society''
vol. 13 (1868) (three “Thumbnail Sketches” by Gilbert, pp. 50–57, 132-136, 315-319)
''On the Cards: Routledge’s Christmas Annual''
(1867) (“Diamonds,” pp. 25–37, and “The Converted Clown,” pp. 137–139)

Other books

*''The Pinafore Picture Book'', London: George Bell & Sons, 1908, retelling the story of ''

H.M.S. Pinafore ''H.M.S. Pinafore; or, The Lass That Loved a Sailor'' is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and a libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It opened at the Opera Comique in London, on 25 May 1878 and ran for 571 performances, which ...

'' for children, in prose narrative form *
The Story of The Mikado
', London: Daniel O'Connor, 1921, a similar retelling of ''

The Mikado ''The Mikado; or, The Town of Titipu'' is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert, their ninth of fourteen Gilbert and Sullivan, operatic collaborations. It opened on 14 March 1885, in London, whe ...

'' for children

Plays and musical stage works

Selected stage works that were important to Gilbert's career or were otherwise notable, in chronological order, excluding those listed under other headings below: * ''

Dulcamara, or the Little Duck and the Great Quack ''Dulcamara, or the Little Duck and the Great Quack'', is one of the earliest plays written by W.S. Gilbert, his first solo stage success. The work is a musical burlesque of Donizetti's ''L'Elisir d'Amore'', and the music was arranged by Mr. Van ...

'' (1866 musical spoof of

Donizetti Domenico Gaetano Maria Donizetti (29 November 1797 – 8 April 1848) was an Italian composer, best known for his almost 70 operas. Along with Gioachino Rossini and Vincenzo Bellini, he was a leading composer of the '' bel canto'' opera style dur ...

's ''

L'elisir d'amore ''L'elisir d'amore'' (''The Elixir of Love'', ) is a ' (opera buffa) in two acts by the Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti. Felice Romani wrote the Italian libretto, after Eugène Scribe's libretto for Daniel Auber's ' (1831). The opera premiere ...

''). Gilbert's first solo success for the theatre, and the first of his five " operatic burlesques". * ''

La Vivandière LA most frequently refers to Los Angeles, the second largest city in the United States. La, LA, or L.A. may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * La (musical note), or A, the sixth note * "L.A.", a song by Elliott Smith on ''Figure ...

'' (1867), a parody of

's '' La figlia del regimento'' * ''

Harlequin Cock Robin and Jenny Wren ''Harlequin Cock Robin and Jenny Wren; or, Fortunatus and the Water of Life, the Three Bears, the Three Gifts, the Three Wishes, and the Little Man who Woo'd the Little Maid'' was a pantomime written by W. S. Gilbert. As with many pantomimes of ...

'' (1867), a Christmas

pantomime Pantomime (; informally panto) is a type of musical comedy stage production designed for family entertainment. It was developed in England and is performed throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland and (to a lesser extent) in other English-speaking ...

. * ''

The Merry Zingara ''The Merry Zingara; Or, The Tipsy Gipsy & The Pipsy Wipsy'' was the third of W. S. Gilbert's five burlesques of opera. Described by the author as "A Whimsical Parody on ''The Bohemian Girl''", by Michael Balfe, it was produced at the Royalty Th ...

'' (1868), a parody of

Michael Balfe Michael William Balfe (15 May 1808 – 20 October 1870) was an Irish composer, best remembered for his operas, especially ''The Bohemian Girl''. After a short career as a violinist, Balfe pursued an operatic singing career, while he began to co ...

's ''

The Bohemian Girl ''The Bohemian Girl'' is an Irish Romantic opera composed by Michael William Balfe with a libretto by Alfred Bunn. The plot is loosely based on a Miguel de Cervantes' tale, ''La Gitanilla''. The best-known aria from the piece is "I Dreamt I Dwel ...

'' * ''

Robert the Devil Robert the Devil () is a legend of medieval origin about a Norman knight who discovers he is the son of Satan. His mother, despairing of heaven's aid in order to obtain a son, had asked for help from the devil. Robert's satanic instincts propel h ...

'' (1868), a parody of

Meyerbeer Giacomo Meyerbeer (born Jakob Liebmann Beer; 5 September 1791 – 2 May 1864) was a German opera composer, "the most frequently performed opera composer during the nineteenth century, linking Mozart and Wagner". With his 1831 opera ''Robert le di ...

's ''

Robert le diable ''Robert le diable'' (''Robert the Devil'') is an opera in five acts composed by Giacomo Meyerbeer between 1827 and 1831, to a libretto written by Eugène Scribe and Germain Delavigne. ''Robert le diable'' is regarded as one of the first grand o ...

''. One of Gilbert's most successful early plays, it opened the

Gaiety Theatre, London The Gaiety Theatre was a West End theatre in London, located on Aldwych at the eastern end of the Strand. The theatre was first established as the Strand Musick Hall in 1864 on the former site of the Lyceum Theatre. In 1868, it became known a ...

and ran in the provinces for 3 years. * ''

The Pretty Druidess ''The Pretty Druidess; Or, The Mother, The Maid, and The Mistletoe Bough'' is an operatic burlesque by W. S. Gilbert. It was produced at the opening of the new Charing Cross Theatre on 19 June 1869 and ran until September of that year. The wor ...

'' (1869), a parody of ''

Norma Norma may refer to: * Norma (given name), a given name (including a list of people with the name) Astronomy *Norma (constellation) * 555 Norma, a minor asteroid *Cygnus Arm or Norma Arm, a spiral arm in the Milky Way galaxy Geography *Norma, Lazi ...

'' – the last of Gilbert's five "operatic burlesques" * ''

An Old Score ''An Old Score'' is an 1869 three-act comedy-drama written by English dramatist W. S. Gilbert based partly on his 1867 short story, ''Diamonds'', and partly on episodes in the lives of William Dargan, an Irish engineer and railway contractor, an ...

'' (1869) (rewritten as "Quits!" in 1872) Gilbert's first full-length comedy. * '' The Princess'' (1870). Musical farce; the precursor to ''

Princess Ida ''Princess Ida; or, Castle Adamant'' is a comic opera with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It was their eighth operatic collaboration of fourteen. ''Princess Ida'' opened at the Savoy Theatre on 5 January 1884, for a ru ...

''. * ''

The Palace of Truth ''The Palace of Truth'' is a three-act blank verse "Fairy Comedy" by W. S. Gilbert first produced at the Haymarket Theatre in London on 19 November 1870, adapted in significant part from Madame de Genlis's fairy story, ''Le Palais de Vérite''. ...

'' (1870). The first of Gilbert's

blank verse Blank verse is poetry written with regular metrical but unrhymed lines, almost always in iambic pentameter. It has been described as "probably the most common and influential form that English poetry has taken since the 16th century", and P ...

"Fairy Comedies". * ''

Creatures of Impulse ''Creatures of Impulse'' is a stage play by the English dramatist W. S. Gilbert, with music by the composer-conductor Alberto Randegger, which Gilbert adapted from his own short story. Both the play and the short story concern an unwanted and i ...

'' (1871), with music by

Alberto Randegger Alberto Randegger (13 April 1832 – 18 December 1911) was an Italian-born composer, conductor and singing teacher, best known for promoting opera and new works of British music in England during the Victorian era and for his widely used textbook o ...

, based on Gilbert's 1870 short story called "A Strange Old Lady". * ''

Pygmalion and Galatea Pygmalion and Galatea are two characters from Greco-Roman mythology. Pygmalion and Galatea may also refer to: * ''Pygmalion and Galatea'' (play), a play by W. S. Gilbert * '' Pygmalion and the Image series'', a series of paintings by Edward Burne- ...

'' (1871). Gilbert's most successful work up to this time. A reinterpretation of the

Pygmalion Pygmalion or Pigmalion may refer to: Mythology * Pygmalion (mythology), a sculptor who fell in love with his statue Stage * ''Pigmalion'' (opera), a 1745 opera by Jean-Philippe Rameau * ''Pygmalion'' (Rousseau), a 1762 melodrama by Jean-Jacques ...

myth in which the innocent former statue,

Galatea Galatea is an ancient Greek name meaning "she who is milk-white". Galatea, Galathea or Gallathea may refer to: In mythology * Galatea (Greek myth), three different mythological figures In the arts * ''Aci, Galatea e Polifemo'', cantata by H ...

, is unable to bear the cynicism and jealousies of the real world. * ''

Randall's Thumb ''Randall's Thumb'' is a play by W. S. Gilbert that premièred in 1871 at the opening of Marie Litton's Royal Court Theatre in London. Its plot, based on a short story that Gilbert had published the year before, relates how the forger Randall b ...

'' (1871). A comedy that opened the

Royal Court Theatre The Royal Court Theatre, at different times known as the Court Theatre, the New Chelsea Theatre, and the Belgravia Theatre, is a non-commercial West End theatre in Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, Englan ...

. * ''

The Wicked World ''The Wicked World'' is a blank verse play by W. S. Gilbert in three acts. It opened at the Haymarket Theatre on 1873 and ran for a successful 145 performances, closing on 1873. The play is an allegory loosely based on a short illustrated st ...

'' (1873). A fairy comedy about how mortal love upsets the fairy world. * ''

The Happy Land ''The Happy Land'' is a play with music written in 1873 by W. S. Gilbert (under the pseudonym F. Latour Tomline) and Gilbert Arthur à Beckett. The musical play burlesques Gilbert's earlier play, ''The Wicked World''. The blank verse piece op ...

'' (1873). This work was briefly banned for its sharp satire of government ministers. It also travesties ''The Wicked World''. * '' The Realm of Joy'' (1873). Set in the box office of a thinly-disguised ''The Happy Land'', it satirises the audience for scandalous plays and the

Lord Chamberlain The Lord Chamberlain of the Household is the most senior officer of the Royal Household of the United Kingdom, supervising the departments which support and provide advice to the Sovereign of the United Kingdom while also acting as the main cha ...

's censorship of plays. * '' The Wedding March'' (1873) a farce adapted from ''Un Chapeau de Paille d'Italie'' by

Eugène Labiche Eugene is a common male given name that comes from the Greek εὐγενής (''eugenēs''), "noble", literally "well-born", from εὖ (''eu''), "well" and γένος (''genos''), "race, stock, kin".Rosencrantz & Guildenstern'' (published 1874, performed 1891). Gilbert's burlesque of ''Hamlet''. * ''

Charity Charity may refer to: Giving * Charitable organization or charity, a non-profit organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being of persons * Charity (practice), the practice of being benevolent, giving and sharing * Ch ...

'' (1874). Concerns Victorian attitudes towards sex outside of marriage. Anticipates the 1890s "problem plays" of

Shaw Shaw may refer to: Places Australia *Shaw, Queensland Canada *Shaw Street, a street in Toronto England *Shaw, Berkshire, a village *Shaw, Greater Manchester, a location in the parish of Shaw and Crompton *Shaw, Swindon, a List of United Kingdom ...

Ibsen Henrik Johan Ibsen (; ; 20 March 1828 – 23 May 1906) was a Norwegian playwright and theatre director. As one of the founders of modernism in theatre, Ibsen is often referred to as "the father of realism" and one of the most influential playw ...

. * '' Sweethearts'' (1874). A drama about love revisited after 30 years. * ''

Tom Cobb ''Tom Cobb or, Fortune's Toy'' is a farce in three-acts (styled "An Entirely Original Farcical Comedy") by W. S. Gilbert. The story concerns Tom, a young debtor who pretends to be a recently deceased man to avoid his debts. A family claims to in ...

'' (1875). This was possibly one of Gilbert's best comedies. * ''

Broken Hearts ''Broken Hearts'' is a blank verse play by W. S. Gilbert in three acts styled "An entirely original fairy play". It opened at the Royal Court Theatre in London on 9 December 1875, running for three months, and toured the provinces in 1876. It wa ...

'' (1875). The last of Gilbert's "fairy comedies", this was one of Gilbert's favourite plays. * ''

Dan'l Druce, Blacksmith ''Dan'l Druce, Blacksmith'' is a play by W. S. Gilbert, styled "A Three-Act Drama of Puritan times". It opened at the Haymarket Theatre in London on 11 September 1876, starring Hermann Vezin, Johnston Forbes-Robertson and Marion Terry. The pla ...

'' (1876). A three-act drama that introduced antecedents of some of Gilbert's later characters. * ''

Engaged An engagement or betrothal is the period of time between the declaration of acceptance of a marriage proposal and the marriage itself (which is typically but not always commenced with a wedding). During this period, a couple is said to be ''fi ...

'' (1877). Probably the most famous of Gilbert's non- Sullivan works for the theatre. * ''

The Ne'er-do-Weel ''The Ne'er-do-Weel'' is a three-act drama written by the English dramatist W. S. Gilbert. It is the second of three plays that he wrote at the request of the actor Edward Askew Sothern, Edward Sothern. The story concerns Jeffery Rollestone, a ...

'' (1878); rewritten as "The Vagabond" after a few weeks. Friendship, sacrifice and rotating lovers: it unsuccessfully combined sentimental scenes with comedy. * ''

The Forty Thieves ''The Forty Thieves'' is a "Pantomime Burlesque" written by Robert Reece, W. S. Gilbert, F. C. Burnand and Henry J. Byron, created in 1878 as a charity benefit, produced by the Beefsteak Club of London. The Beefsteak Club still meets in Irving ...

'' (1878). An "amateur pantomime at the Gaiety," written with three other writers, in which WSG played Harlequin. * ''

Gretchen Gretchen (, ; literal translation: "Little Grete" or "Little Greta") is a female given name of German origin that is mainly prevalent in the United States. Its popularity increased because a major character in Goethe's ''Faust'' (1808) has th ...

'' (1879). One of Gilbert's favorites – his take on the ''Faust'' legend. * ''

Foggerty's Fairy ''Foggerty's Fairy'', subtitled "An Entirely Original Fairy Farce", is a three-act farce by W.S. Gilbert based loosely on Gilbert's short story, "The Story of a Twelfth Cake", which was published in the Christmas Number of ''The Graphic'' in 18 ...

'' (1881). Gilbert's ''Back to the Future'' play. * ''

Brantinghame Hall ''Brantinghame Hall'' is a play in four acts written by W. S. Gilbert for his friend Rutland Barrington, who was then leasing the St. James's Theatre. The play opened on 29 November 1888 and closed on 29 December, after about 27 performances. It ...

'' (1888), a drama. Gilbert's biggest flop, it sent producer

Rutland Barrington Rutland Barrington (15 January 1853 – 31 May 1922) was an English singer, actor, comedian and Edwardian musical comedy star. Best remembered for originating the lyric baritone roles in the Gilbert and Sullivan operas from 1877 to 1896, his ...

into bankruptcy. * ''

The Fortune Hunter ''The Fortune Hunter'' is a drama in three acts by W. S. Gilbert. The piece concerns an heiress who loses her fortune. Her shallow husband sues to annul the marriage, leaving her pregnant and taking up with a wealthy former lover. The piece wa ...

'' (1897). Not a good play; its reception provoked WSG to announce retiring from writing for the stage. * ''

The Fairy's Dilemma ''Harlequin and the Fairy's Dilemma'', retitled ''The Fairy's Dilemma'' shortly after the play opened, is a play in two acts by W. S. Gilbert that parodies the harlequinade that concluded 19th-century pantomimes. It was produced at the Garric ...

'' (1904). WSG finally works out a lifelong obsession with pantomime and harlequinade. * ''

The Hooligan ''The Hooligan, A Character Study'' is a one-act play by W. S. Gilbert. It opened at the Coliseum Theatre in London on 27 February 1911 and ran for a month, being played both in the evenings and at matinees, for a total of about 42 performances. ...

'' (1911). Gilbert's last play, written in a new, serious style.

German Reed Entertainments

Gilbert wrote six one-act musical entertainments for the German Reeds between 1869 and 1875. They were successful in their own right and also helped form Gilbert's mature style as a dramatist. These include: * ''

No Cards ''No Cards'' is a "musical piece in one act" for four characters, written by W. S. Gilbert, with music composed and arranged by German Reed. It was first produced at the Royal Gallery of Illustration, Lower Regent Street, London, under the mana ...

'' (1869) * ''

Ages Ago ''Ages Ago'', sometimes stylised as ''Ages Ago!'' or ''Ages Ago!!'', is a musical entertainment with a libretto by W. S. Gilbert and music by Frederic Clay that premiered on 22 November 1869 at the Royal Gallery of Illustration. It marked the b ...

'' (1869). Gilbert's first collaboration with

Frederic Clay Frederic Emes Clay (3 August 1838 – 24 November 1889) was an English composer known principally for songs and his music written for the stage. Although from a musical family, for 16 years Clay made his living as a civil servant in HM Treasury ...

, and his first hit with the German Reeds, running for 350 performances. * ''

Our Island Home ''Our Island Home'' is a one-act musical entertainment with a libretto by W. S. Gilbert and music by Thomas German Reed that premiered on 20 June 1870 at the Royal Gallery of Illustration. The piece has five characters and is "biographical", in ...

'' (1870) * ''

A Sensation Novel ''A Sensation Novel'' is a comic musical play in three acts (or volumes) written by the dramatist W. S. Gilbert, with music composed by Thomas German Reed. It was first performed on 31 January 1871 at the Royal Gallery of Illustration. Only f ...

'' (1871) * ''

Happy Arcadia ''Happy Arcadia'' is a musical entertainment with a libretto by W. S. Gilbert and music originally by Frederic Clay that premiered on 28 October 1872 at the Royal Gallery of Illustration. It was one of four collaborations between Gilbert and Cla ...

'' (1872) * ''

Eyes and No Eyes ''Eyes and No Eyes, or The Art of Seeing'' is a one-act musical entertainment with a libretto by W. S. Gilbert and music originally by Thomas German Reed. The story concerns two sisters who love flirtatious twin brothers (though it is not cert ...

'' (1875)

Early comic operas

* ''

The Gentleman in Black ''The Gentleman in Black'' is a two-act comic opera written in 1870 with a libretto by W. S. Gilbert and music by Frederic Clay. The "musical comedietta" opened at the Charing Cross Theatre on 26 May 1870. It played for 26 performances, until th ...

'' (1870; music by

). The score is lost. * ''

Les Brigands ''Les brigands'' (''The Bandits'') is an opéra bouffe, or operetta, by Jacques Offenbach to a French libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy. Meilhac and Halévy's libretto lampoons both serious drama (Schiller's play ''The Robbers'') an ...

'' (1871), an English adaptation of

Jacques Offenbach Jacques Offenbach (, also , , ; 20 June 18195 October 1880) was a German-born French composer, cellist and impresario of the Romantic period. He is remembered for his nearly 100 operettas of the 1850s to the 1870s, and his uncompleted opera '' ...

's operetta. * ''

Topsyturveydom ''Topsyturveydom'' (sometimes spelled ''Topsyturvydom'' or ''Topseyturveydom'') is a one-act operetta by W. S. Gilbert with music by Alfred Cellier. Styled "an entirely original musical extravaganza", it is based on one of Gilbert's Bab Ballad ...

'' (1874; music by

Alfred Cellier Alfred Cellier (1 December 184428 December 1891) was an English composer, orchestrator and conductor. In addition to conducting and music directing the original productions of several of the most famous Gilbert and Sullivan works and writing th ...

). This one-act operetta concerns a country that is the opposite of England. The score is lost. * ''

Princess Toto ''Princess Toto'' is a three-act comic opera by W. S. Gilbert and his long-time collaborator Frederic Clay. Its pre-London tour opened on 24 June 1876 at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham, starring Kate Santley, W. S. Penley and J. H. Ryley. It tr ...

'' (1876; music by

). A three-act opera, Gilbert's last with Clay.

The
Gilbert and Sullivan Gilbert and Sullivan was a Victorian era, Victorian-era theatrical partnership of the dramatist W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911) and the composer Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900), who jointly created fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896, of which ...
operas

All of these comic operas are full-length two-act works, except for ''Trial by Jury'', which is in one act, and ''Princess Ida'', which is three acts. All except for ''Trial by Jury'' contain spoken dialogue; the dialogue in ''Princess Ida'' is written in

. * ''

Thespis Thespis (; grc-gre, Θέσπις; fl. 6th century BC) was an Ancient Greek poet. He was born in the ancient city of Icarius (present-day Dionysos, Greece). According to certain Ancient Greek sources and especially Aristotle, he was the first pe ...

'' (1871) * ''

Trial by Jury A jury trial, or trial by jury, is a legal proceeding in which a jury makes a decision or findings of fact. It is distinguished from a bench trial in which a judge or panel of judges makes all decisions. Jury trials are used in a significant ...

'' (1875) * ''

The Sorcerer ''The Sorcerer'' is a two-act comic opera, with a libretto by W. S. Gilbert and music by Arthur Sullivan. It was the British duo's third operatic collaboration. The plot of ''The Sorcerer'' is based on a Christmas story, ''An Elixir of Lo ...

'' (1877) * ''

'' (1878) * ''

The Pirates of Penzance ''The Pirates of Penzance; or, The Slave of Duty'' is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert, W. S. Gilbert. Its official premiere was at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in New York City on 31 ...

'' (1879) * ''

Patience (or forbearance) is the ability to endure difficult circumstances. Patience may involve perseverance in the face of delay; tolerance of provocation without responding in disrespect/anger; or forbearance when under strain, especially when faced ...

'' (1881) * ''

Iolanthe ''Iolanthe; or, The Peer and the Peri'' () is a comic opera with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert, first performed in 1882. It is one of the Savoy operas and is the seventh of fourteen operatic collaborations by Gilbert ...

'' (1882) * ''

'' (1884) * ''

'' (1885) * ''

Ruddigore ''Ruddigore; or, The Witch's Curse'', originally called ''Ruddygore'', is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It is one of the Savoy Operas and the tenth of fourteen comic operas written tog ...

'' (1887) * ''

The Yeomen of the Guard ''The Yeomen of the Guard; or, The Merryman and His Maid'', is a Savoy Opera, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It premiered at the Savoy Theatre on 3 October 1888 and ran for 423 performances. This was the eleventh ...

'' (1888) * ''

The Gondoliers ''The Gondoliers; or, The King of Barataria'' is a Savoy Opera, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It premiered at the Savoy Theatre on 7 December 1889 and ran for a very successful 554 performances (at that time the ...

'' (1889) * ''

Utopia, Limited ''Utopia, Limited; or, The Flowers of Progress'', is a Savoy opera, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It was the second-to-last of Gilbert and Sullivan's fourteen collaborations, premiering on 7 October 1893 for a ...

'' (1893) * ''

The Grand Duke ''The Grand Duke; or, The Statutory Duel'', is the final Savoy Opera written by librettist W. S. Gilbert and composer Arthur Sullivan, their fourteenth and last opera together. It premiered at the Savoy Theatre on 7 March 1896, and ran for 12 ...

'' (1896)

Later operas without Sullivan

Though not as popular as the works with

Arthur Sullivan Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan (13 May 1842 – 22 November 1900) was an English composer. He is best known for 14 comic opera, operatic Gilbert and Sullivan, collaborations with the dramatist W. S. Gilbert, including ''H.M.S. Pinaf ...

, a few of Gilbert's later comic operas arguably have stronger plots than the last two Gilbert and Sullivan operas. * ''

The Mountebanks ''The Mountebanks'' is a comic opera in two acts with music by Alfred Cellier and Ivan Caryll and a libretto by W. S. Gilbert. The story concerns a magic potion that causes the person to whom it is administered to become what he or she has pre ...

'' (1892; music by

). This is the "lozenge plot" that Sullivan declined to set on several occasions. * ''

Haste to the Wedding ''Haste to the Wedding'' is a three-act comic opera with a libretto by W. S. Gilbert and music by George Grossmith, based on Gilbert's 1873 play, ''The Wedding March''. The opera was the most ambitious piece of composition undertaken by Grossmi ...

'' (1892; music by

George Grossmith George Grossmith (9 December 1847 – 1 March 1912) was an English comedian, writer, composer, actor, and singer. His performing career spanned more than four decades. As a writer and composer, he created 18 comic operas, nearly 100 musical ...

). An unsuccessful adaptation of '' The Wedding March''. * ''

His Excellency Excellency is an honorific style (manner of address), style given to certain high-level officers of a sovereign state, officials of an international organization, or members of an aristocracy. Once entitled to the title "Excellency", the holder ...

'' (1894; with music by

Osmond Carr Frank Osmond Carr (23 April 1858 – 29 August 1916), known as F. Osmond Carr, was an English composer who wrote the music for several Victorian burlesques before turning to the new genre of Edwardian musical comedy, and also composing some comic ...

). Gilbert felt that if Sullivan had set it, the piece would have been "another Mikado". * ''

Fallen Fairies ''Fallen Fairies''; ''or, The Wicked World'', is a two-act comic opera, with a libretto by W. S. Gilbert and music by Edward German. The story is an operatic adaptation of Gilbert's 1873 blank-verse fairy comedy, ''The Wicked World''. In Fairylan ...

'' (1909; music by

Edward German Sir Edward German (17 February 1862 – 11 November 1936) was an English musician and composer of Welsh descent, best remembered for his extensive output of incidental music for the stage and as a successor to Arthur Sullivan in the field of ...

). Gilbert's last opera, which was a failure.

Parlour ballads

Gilbert is known to have written lyrics for twelve parlour ballads.Allen, p. 74 These are: *"The Yarn of the Nancy Bell", with music by Alfred Plumpton. One of the

Bab Ballads ''The Bab Ballads'' is a collection of light verses by W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911), illustrated with his own comic drawings. The book takes its title from Gilbert's childhood nickname. He later began to sign his illustrations "Bab". Gilbert w ...

. Published by Charles Jeffreys in 1869. *"Thady O'Flynn", with music by James L. Molloy. Published by Boosey & Co on 7 October 1868. From ''

''. *"Would You Know that Maiden Fair", with music by

. From ''

''. Published by Boosey c. 1869. *"Corisande", with music by James L. Molloy. Published by Boosey on 18 June 1870. *"Eily's Reason", with music by James L. Molloy. Published by Boosey on 27 February 1871. *Three songs from ''

'': "The Detective's Song", "The Tyrannical Bridegroom", and "The Jewel". Published by Hopwood & Co in 1871. *"The Distant Shore", with music by

. Published by Chappell & Co on 18 December 1874. *"The Love that Loves me Not", with music by Arthur Sullivan. Published by Novello, Ewer & Co in 1875. *"Sweethearts", with music by Arthur Sullivan. Based on the

play of the same name Play most commonly refers to: * Play (activity), an activity done for enjoyment * Play (theatre), a work of drama Play may refer also to: Computers and technology * Google Play, a digital content service * Play Framework, a Java framework * Pla ...

and used to promote it. Published by Chappell & Co in 1875.Allen, p. 41 *"Let Me Stay", with music by Walter Maynard. Published by Boosey on 13 December 1875. The same lyric was set by

for ''

''.

Notes

References

*Allen, Reginald (1963), ''W. S. Gilbert: An Anniversary Survey and Exhibition Checklist with Thirty-five Illustrations'', The Biographical Society of the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia. * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Gilbert, W. S. Bibliographies by writer Bibliographies of British writers Dramatist and playwright bibliographies

Poetry

Selected short stories

Other books

Plays and musical stage works

German Reed Entertainments

Early comic operas

The Gilbert and Sullivan Gilbert and Sullivan was a Victorian era, Victorian-era theatrical partnership of the dramatist W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911) and the composer Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900), who jointly created fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896, of which ... operas

Later operas without Sullivan

Parlour ballads

See also

Notes

References

The
Gilbert and Sullivan Gilbert and Sullivan was a Victorian era, Victorian-era theatrical partnership of the dramatist W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911) and the composer Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900), who jointly created fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896, of which ...
operas