ABSTRACT

In the summer of 1879 Carte was in New York making plans to produce the forthcoming work by Gilbert and Sullivan there. Although his main purpose was to arrange a three-month season at Ford’s Fifth Avenue Theatre, he also wanted to survey the rival productions and audition potential chorus members. His plan was not to bring a full chorus from England but only four experienced choristers as section leaders and engage other singers in America as cheaply as possible. His first impressions of pirated productions of H.M.S. Pinafore were unfavourable, for many were substandard. 1 Yet, when interviewed on 28 July, while admitting that he may bring an authentic production of H.M.S. Pinafore to America, he tactfully claimed that he had no wish to belittle the American productions but simply wanted to present something new and authoritative. If time allowed, he would have The Sorcerer in the repertoire and he particularly wanted to introduce Sullivan’s more serious works to the public including the oratorio The prodigal son. 2