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Gilbert's Glory: Episode 5

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Episode 5

BBC Radio 4 - Gilbert's Glory, Episode 5

Gilbert's relationship with Arthur Sullivan, with whom his legacy would be bound up.

Ruth Padel examines Gilbert's relationship with Arthur Sullivan, with whom his legacy would be bound up.

Most people know W.S. Gilbert as the writer of comic operas such as 'The Mikado' and 'H.M.S.Pinafore' with Arthur Sullivan. But there was far more to his life and work than that. He was a prolific playwright,. a writer of humorous verse including the 'Bab Ballads', a gifted artist and a theatre director who helped to revolutionise the way plays were produced onstage. 

In this series of programmes to mark the centenary of his death, the writer and poet Ruth Padel explores five aspects of Gilbert's work and evaluates his significance and his legacy. Key contributors include the director Mike Leigh whose movie 'Topsy-Turvy' depicts the relationship between Gilbert and Sullivan, as well as biographers, academics and performers such as Alistair McGowan who has performed and directed Gilbert and Sullivan operas and the singer Richard Suart who recently performed in 'The Mikado' at English National Opera. 

Programme 5 examines Gilbert's relationship with the man with whom his legacy would be bound up - Arthur Sullivan. We hear the qualities that Gilbert brought to the partnership and how his work with Sullivan included not only the creation of the Savoy operas, but a constant monitoring of the finances of the business, which would eventually lead to the famous 'Carpet Quarrel'. 

Producer: Emma Kingsley.

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Ruth Padel explores writer WS Gilbert's work 100 years after his death

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