22 September, 1885: The Ulmar Paragraph, Part 2 – That scoundrel Byrne
22 September, 1885 Went to Rockaway races with Mrs R & Adele.got into the wrong train returning, went to Brooklynover the Bridge & by “L” Railway home. & dined at Delsat 8.30! Beastly wet day. It’s 1885 and Sullivan is in New York City, five days away from facing a scandal in the press (see […]
21 September, 1885: The Ulmar Paragraph, Part 1
‘Drove Miss Ulmar home O’ 21 September, 1885 Sent Miss U. some toothache stuff – Raging toothache. Hope she will be all right for Thursday. It’s 1885. The Mikado has been playing in London since 14 March, and it shows every sign of being Gilbert & Sullivan’s biggest hit show so far. Richard Carte, Gilbert, […]
20, September 1887: Shooting season!
20, September 1887 Mrs Huyshe, Martins, Wagg, Dicey, and Dresden arrdIll in bed & could not see them. It’s 1887. Ruddigore opened at the Savoy Theatre last 22 January. It’s been nearly a year since Sullivan conducted the premiere of his cantata The Golden Legend at the Leeds Music Festival of 1886. Now he’s scheduled […]
19 September, 1900: Adieu Paris
‘but my throat no better’ Left Paris by 11.50 from Gare du Nord. Nice warm day, but my throatno better. arr: home 7.30. Found the house fresh & clean anddelightful as usual after an absence. Bend: waiting for me atVictoria. didn’t go out again. It’s 1900. Today Sullivan is returning home to London from a […]
18 September, 1892: A mad dash to Haddon Hall
18 September, 1892 Quiet all day – wrote song for Barrington (No 10)Gdma, Auntie & Beaumont dined here. In 1892 Sullivan produced a light opera with a writer other than W.S. Gilbert for the first time since 1875. Gilbert & Sullivan had split up two years previously. Since then, Sullivan had created his only grand […]
17 September, 1896: Zero F***s given!
17 September, 1896 Buda Pest. and Vienna. Very hot. After breakfast called on the Hawthorn girls.Bertie, George Arthur & self left Pest at 2. awfullyhot in train. arr: Vienna 6.30 – back to H. ImperialHad tea & went to see a ballet at The Opera “Robert andBertrand” – our old friend R. Macaire – not […]
From the diaries: Did Sullivan worry about Princess Ida?
Was Sullivan concerned about the potential success of Princess Ida? The short answer is: no. At least not that he records in his diary. Princess Ida had a strangely elongated gestation period, compared to most of the other shows. On Feb. 8, 1883, Sullivan and Gilbert both agreed to a five-year contract with Carte to keep […]
Ivanhoe: One view from the boxes.
‘Being hot is only becoming to some girls.’ Field Marshal Garnet Joseph Wolseley, 1st Viscount Wolseley (4 June 1833 – 25 March 1913) was the sort of Victorian war hero who spent a lot of time away from his home and his wife, Louisa, Lady Wolseley. Hence, they exchanged many letters. After his death, Lady Wolseley asked a […]
16 September, 1883: Whatton, Part 2: The party continues
16 September, 1883 Whatton. quiet morning – church in theafternoon – played the service in a surplice,Cellier assisting – tea on the lawn – a prettylittle woman Mrs. Badger (husband embezzled& bolted) came to tea – quiet evening – Cellier& I played the organ in the billiard room. As we read in Sullivan’s diary for […]
15 September, 1883: King David and a visit to the Hall of Halls
15 September, 1883 Left for Leeds. 10.10 a.m. missed Macfarran atthe station – had accident to train in front of usat Lofthouse – no one killed – rehearsed “KingDavid” – 2nd part not satisfactory – returnedto town at 10 p.m. supped at F went on toWhatton Manor (E.A. Hall’s) in the evening.A. Cellier, Douglas Grant […]