Opera Australia: Gilbert & Sullivan – A Musical Celebration review [Melbourne 2026]

Opera Australia presents a glorious tribute to the evergreen canon of Gilbert & Sullivan, long revered composers of their own special topsy-turvy style of operetta. What a difference a director makes. Where other musical concerts tend to take a chance on throwing the artists in front of an orchestra and hoping for the best, the standard of Gilbert & Sullivan – A Musical Celebration is vastly superior given the canny guidance and keen insight of director Stuart Maunder. A life-long devotee of Gilbert & Sullivan, the intricate knowledge and abundant passion of director Maunder permeates every aspect of the performance. Working from a concept by Patrick Togher, Maunder has crafted a generous sampling of Gilbert & Sullivan classics along with some lesser known gems. Not only has Maunder written his Director’s Notes in the (complimentary) program but has also included notes about each and every musical item. Further, Maunder has written introductions to brackets of songs, which are…

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