Gilbert & Sullivan - THE SORCERER - "My name is John Wellington Wells" (John Reed)

THE SORCERER Librettist: Sir William Schwenk (W.S.) Gilbert Composer: Sir Arthur Sullivan First performance: Opera Comique, London, 17 November 1877 “The Sorcerer”, Gilbert and Sullivan’s earliest surviving two act collaboration, is set in an English village, and satirizes both the class system and idealism. Alexis Pointdextre will marry Aline Sangazure, and hopes that everyone can share in the joys of love. To that end, he hires a sorcerer, J.W. Wells, to drug the villagers with his love potion. Chaos ensues and the ‘wrong’ characters fall in love. In the end, Alexis persuades Wells to sacrifice himself to a demon, and all ends happily – except for the unfortunate respectable tradesman. No. 12: “My name is John Wellington Wells” John Wellington Wells, of J.W. Wells & Co., Family Sorcerers (comic baritone): John Reed Conductor: Isidore Godfrey D’Oyly Carte Opera Chorus Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Recorded London 1966