I was at a performance in Woodbridge in the UK today and it was just beautiful I am so grateful that I could see this opera that I just thanked with all my heart that I had the pleasure and luck to see it I am very grateful beautiful thank you❤
I am amazed someone has been prepared to translate this into a language spoken only by small population - most of whom speak perfect English. It cant have been easy given the archaic language of the original but it certainly paid off. Great singing, acting and casting.
Thank you! It is always a fun challenge to work with language and differences in expression. We also believe there to be a cultural value in making art available for new audiences - even though many Swedes are indeed adept speakers of English, most are even better speakers of Swedish ;)
Super job from all you talented, energetic Swedes! We English-speakers owe you an English-language version of a Swedish-language operetta. Any suggestions?
We don't have too many Swedish operettas that are easy to find, but one that is some-what famous would be Animalen by Tage Danielsson and Lars Johan Werle
in addition to the Mikado, I've watched a variety of Iolanthe productions over the years. This Swedish production exceeds all expectations in the way the performers actually interact with each other in a very real sense, compared to many performances where you're basically watching talking heads simply staring at the audience while making half hearted efforts at any sort of choreography at all. Although my "gold standard" is still the Stratford production of 1984, I enjoyed this thoroughly even though I didn't understand but one or two words throughout. The only downsides were the limited stage provided for the actors, and the floor level orchestra setting instead of a proper orchestra pit (looking at the performance thorough the orchestra was rather distracting). As always, I still cried near the end when Iolanthe offers her life in exchange for her son's happiness (yeah, I'm just an old softie). Well worth watching, if only for the music, and if you've seen it as many times as I have, you kinda auto-translate in your mind anyway. Five Stars!!!
Thank you so much for all the kind words! We have all been watching the Statford production before, during and after making this, and we agree - it's amazing! So glad that you enjoyed the interaction and the production. Perhaps we will be able to perform in a venue with an actual orchestra pit in the future! :)
I have been directing and performing in G&S for over thirty years and have watched this production and The Pirates of Penzance with great pleasure. You have captured the style of these most-English comic operas beautifully. I would love to see you perform at the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival in Buxton - I think you would be very popular. Do consider it as it would be great to see you perform in person.
Thank you so much! We are all dreaming of coming to the festival some year when our economy is strong enough. It would be an honor to perform for you there!
Nary a laugh from the audience. I dont understand that. Do Swedes not grasp the English humor? Wonderful singers but Im afraid Swedes do not comprehend English humor. It might help if Swedes knew that Lord Kelvin developed the lights and battery packs for the original fairies. Or that G&S formed the cradle for the genesis of the greatest opposing human forces: 1) Lord Kelvin versus Charles Darwin 2) Marx versus Adam Smith 3) Winston Churchill versus German tyranny 4) Free Will versus predestination It is not a coincidence that Churchill exhibited the grandest of G&S themes in his crusade against Hitler. Churchill was succored on G&S. Even today, the song, "Fold your Flapping Wings" is too controversial and political to present to audiences. Normally it is deleted. G&S Societies continue to thrive all over the world. Can anyone hum even ONE of Shakespeare's melodies?
There were a lot of both snickering and laughter from the audience, but in order to keep the experience of viewing optimal for the video, the audience audio was kept out. I can assure you that Swedes have a special love for the English humor, without a doubt! It's no coincidence that 2 of our 3 first productions have been G&S.
I was at a performance in Woodbridge in the UK today and it was just beautiful I am so grateful that I could see this opera that I just thanked with all my heart that I had the pleasure and luck to see it I am very grateful beautiful thank you❤
I am amazed someone has been prepared to translate this into a language spoken only by small population - most of whom speak perfect English. It cant have been easy given the archaic language of the original but it certainly paid off. Great singing, acting and casting.
Thank you! It is always a fun challenge to work with language and differences in expression. We also believe there to be a cultural value in making art available for new audiences - even though many Swedes are indeed adept speakers of English, most are even better speakers of Swedish ;)
This truly delightful! You have all captured absolutely the right spirit of G&S. Excellent!
Thank you!
What a delightful ensemble performance by the whole company including the most beautiful Iolanthe I’ve ever seen.
Thank you for the kind words :)
Excellent clarinetist in the overture!
This is absolutely charming! During the overture I kept hoping it would be in Swedish rather than English, and it was.
Glad to hear it! Thanks
My favorite Gilbert and Sullivan play in German? What a splendid performance by this company!
Swedish!
Indeed Swedish as PeterWeeks states. Thank you for the kind words!
Genialt!!
Tack!
So well done translation was unnecessary. Loved it.
That's amazing! Thank you
Super job from all you talented, energetic Swedes! We English-speakers owe you an English-language version of a Swedish-language operetta. Any suggestions?
We don't have too many Swedish operettas that are easy to find, but one that is some-what famous would be Animalen by Tage Danielsson and Lars Johan Werle
in addition to the Mikado, I've watched a variety of Iolanthe productions over the years.
This Swedish production exceeds all expectations in the way the performers actually interact with each other in a very real sense, compared to many performances where you're basically watching talking heads simply staring at the audience while making half hearted efforts at any sort of choreography at all.
Although my "gold standard" is still the Stratford production of 1984, I enjoyed this thoroughly even though I didn't understand but one or two words throughout.
The only downsides were the limited stage provided for the actors, and the floor level orchestra setting instead of a proper orchestra pit (looking at the performance thorough the orchestra was rather distracting).
As always, I still cried near the end when Iolanthe offers her life in exchange for her son's happiness (yeah, I'm just an old softie).
Well worth watching, if only for the music, and if you've seen it as many times as I have, you kinda auto-translate in your mind anyway.
Five Stars!!!
Thank you so much for all the kind words! We have all been watching the Statford production before, during and after making this, and we agree - it's amazing! So glad that you enjoyed the interaction and the production. Perhaps we will be able to perform in a venue with an actual orchestra pit in the future! :)
I have been directing and performing in G&S for over thirty years and have watched this production and The Pirates of Penzance with great pleasure. You have captured the style of these most-English comic operas beautifully. I would love to see you perform at the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival in Buxton - I think you would be very popular. Do consider it as it would be great to see you perform in person.
Thank you so much! We are all dreaming of coming to the festival some year when our economy is strong enough. It would be an honor to perform for you there!
Nary a laugh from the audience. I dont understand that.
Do Swedes not grasp the English humor?
Wonderful singers but Im afraid Swedes do not comprehend English humor.
It might help if Swedes knew that Lord Kelvin developed the lights and battery packs for the original fairies.
Or that G&S formed the cradle for the genesis of the greatest opposing human forces:
1) Lord Kelvin versus Charles Darwin
2) Marx versus Adam Smith
3) Winston Churchill versus German tyranny
4) Free Will versus predestination
It is not a coincidence that Churchill exhibited the grandest of G&S themes in his crusade against Hitler. Churchill was succored on G&S.
Even today, the song, "Fold your Flapping Wings" is too controversial and political to present to audiences.
Normally it is deleted.
G&S Societies continue to thrive all over the world.
Can anyone hum even ONE of Shakespeare's melodies?
There were a lot of both snickering and laughter from the audience, but in order to keep the experience of viewing optimal for the video, the audience audio was kept out.
I can assure you that Swedes have a special love for the English humor, without a doubt! It's no coincidence that 2 of our 3 first productions have been G&S.