Oh Joy! Oh Rapture!: The Enduring Phenomenon of Gilbert and Sullivan

by Ian Bradley

In Oh Joy! Oh Rapture! expert and enthusiast Ian Bradley explores the world of Gilbert and Sullivan over the last four and a half decades, looking at the way this "phenomenon" is passed from generation to generation. Taking as his starting point the expiry of copyright on the opera libretti at the end of 1961 and using fascinating hitherto unpublished archive material, Bradley reveals the extraordinary story of the last years of the old D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, the guardian of Savoy tradition for over a hundred years, and the troubled history of its successor. He explores the rich vein of parodies, spoofs, and spin-offs of the songs, as well as their influence on twentieth century lyricists and composers. He analyzes professional productions across the world, looks at the unique place of G&S in schools, colleges, and universities, and lovingly explores the culture of amateur performance. He also uncovers the largely male world of the obsessive fans, those collecting
memorabilia, the myriad magazines, journals, websites, and festivals devoted to G&S, and the arcane interests of some of the faithful "inner brotherhood."

Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Ian Bradley is a Church of Scotland minister, academic, broadcaster, journalist and lecturer. He has written over 40 books. He is currently Principal of St Mary's College and Reader in Church History and Practical Theology at the University of St. Andrews.

Reviews

[Sarah-Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok so this book, being 20 years old is rather outdated, but it’s still a very good read and very insightful.

I can’t really give a review but I have to give it 5 stars because of one very special reason - I am the 18 year old girl quoted at the end of the book!! Yup the last two pages are all about little old me, immortalised forever as 18, so this book will always have a special place in my heart.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ian Bradley is the editor of the excellent The Complete Annotated Gilbert & Sullivan, which I've reread and enjoyed for years. Here, he examines specifically the last forty years in Gilbert and Sullivan performances and organizations, or since about 1961, when their works came into the public domain and could be performed by groups other than the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. After devoting a couple of chapters to the currently defunct D'Oyly Carte, Bradley goes on to explore other groups and performances, professional and amateur, all over the world; I was pleased to see references to my local G&S society, the Seattle Gilbert and Sullivan Society. Bradley also includes chapters on G&S parodies (very funny) and on G&S fans; here I do wonder if he's overgeneralizing, as I think he may be overestimating the tendency of G&S fans to be male, but perhaps I'm simply also overgeneralizing, based on personal experience. Overall, as one would expect from a Gilbert and Sullivan expert like Bradley, Oh Joy! Oh Rapture! is a fascinating read and well worth adding to the collection of any G&S fan.

[MH · Rating 4 out of 5]

An overview and history of Gilbert & Sullivan throughout the 20th century in performance and culture. The introduction and chapter on the threadbare last days of the D'Oyly Carte company are fantastic, as are his keen explorations on the differences between G&S in the UK and US and the world of amateur performance, but even the less interesting chapters (a cataloging of amateur G&S societies, a large collection of the lyrics of painfully unfunny G&S parodies) are saved by Bradley's great, genuine wit and his ability to be both clear-eyed and deeply passionate about the "male, middle-aged, middle-class, middle-income ... and Methodist" (95) world of Gilbert & Sullivan fandom.

[Gaby · Rating 5 out of 5]

incredible

so much joy and great information! ian bradley is a treasure for gilbert and sullivan obsessives like me. i hope this gets updated in the next few years since it came out in 2005.

[Daniel Osborn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a little disappointed after reading this book. The history of the D'Olye Carte opera company was good and so were the pictures. It also talked about influences from the modern broadway musical writers. Just didn't grab me unfortunately.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

wish the index was better and that coverage of adaptations and parodies was more extensive