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The Rose of Persia
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| Background | Recordings |
For his last completed stage work, Sullivan finally had something that had eluded him for most of the 1890s: a success. As the composer himself put it after opening night:
I conducted as usual. Hideously nervous as usual — great reception as usual — great house as usual — excellent performance as usual — everything as usual — except that the piece is really a great success, I think, which is unusual lately.
The opera was in the classic Savoy mold, with topsy-turvy quips, a Mikado-like Madrigal, and even an executioner. The score brought out the melodic gifts that had been Sullivan's stock in trade, with one reviewer proclaiming that "The musician is once again absolutely himself." The piece achieved a respectable run of about 213 performances. I am not sufficiently familiar with The Rose of Persia to offer an opinion, but one of my G&S colleagues who is familiar with all the 1890s operas says it is the one of Sullivan's non-Gilbert works that he'd most like to see frequently revived.
| NR | 1963 St. Albans Amateur Operatic Society | Ster |  |
| NR | 1985 Prince Consort | Ster |
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| NR | 1999 BBC Music Magazine | Ster | |
The BBC Music Magazine recording, which appeared in the May 1999 issue, is the only professional recording of the opera. In the foreseeable future, it is not likely to be surpassed. A commercial release had been planned, but now apparently has stalled. For a less enthusiastic view of this recording, see Michael Walters's comparative review of the three Rose of Persia recordings.