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Harold A. Kanthor Collection of Gilbert and Sullivan

 Collection
Identifier: D.486

Biographical / Historical note

The fourteen comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan were originally produced between 1871 and 1896 in London. They were immediately successful throughout England and were equally popular in America and throughout the English speaking world. They are considered masterpieces of the Victorian age and are still performed regularly and widely appreciated. In this country, the best known of their works are The Mikado, H.M.S. Pinafore and The Pirates of Penzance.



By the time Gilbert and Sullivan first collaborated, each was already well known to the British public. W.S. Gilbert (1836-1911) was known as a writer and artist for comic periodicals, and his early theatrical pieces were successes. He was the pre-eminent dramatist of the 1870’s at the same time he began his collaboration with Sullivan. Arthur Sullivan (1842-1900) was already a well-known musician by the time he met Gilbert. His musical gifts were established early, and he had already composed popular drawing room songs as well as religious anthems, orchestral compositions and choral music.



The collaboration of W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan was made possible by their third “partner,” manager and impresario Richard D’Oyly Carte 1844-1900), who brought them together in 1875 and contracted with them to write their comic operas until their final work together in 1896. Carte set high production standards and, in 1881, he built the Savoy Theatre in London expressly for their operas. The Savoy would henceforth be associated with Gilbert and Sullivan and their operas would be known as the Savoy Operas. D’Oyly Carte’s Opera Company continued to regularly perform these works until 1982. The D’Oyly Carte productions were considered traditional as they carried on much of the original staging as directed by Gilbert. Gilbert and Sullivan operas remained under copyright until 1961. Since that year, directors have adapted their work in more innovative and conceptual productions.

Scope and Contents

This is a comprehensive collection of material relating to W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan; their collaboration which produced fourteen comic operas (1871-1896); D'Oyly Carte's Opera Company which initially produced them and continued to do so until 1982; and contemporary artists and personalities. The collection has its focus in nineteenth century material, and documents the varied artistic endeavors of both Gilbert and Sullivan, the literary and musical significance of their collaboration, and the social phenomenon engendered by the popularity of these productions.

The collection includes autograph and manuscript material of both Gilbert and Sullivan, including Sullivan's musical manuscript setting of a song by Benjamin Disraeli; published works with ownership or presentation inscriptions, including a presentation copy from Gilbert to his wife, and acting editions with the ownership signature of Gilbert's mother. Autograph letters of Richard D’Oyly Carte and other contemporary personalities.

First and early editions of the British librettos documenting Gilbert's characteristic changes to text and lyrics; programs and souvenirs from the original productions of all fourteen Gilbert and Sullivan operas; a collection of nineteenth century American librettos containing additional early variants of Gilbert's lyrics and texts.

Early programs documenting the popularity of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas in America, including an extensive archive of H.M.S. Pinafore material from Boston 1878-1879.

Early acting editions, librettos, programs and periodicals documenting Gilbert's career as writer and illustrator of prose and verse and his stature as the pre-eminent British dramatist of his day. An extensive run of Fun (London) 1861-1876 containing his early contributions. A comprehensive collection of his published works.

A collection of vocal scores of the operas and early sheet music including Sullivan's popular songs and anthems. Dance arrangements of music from the Gilbert and Sullivan operas with color lithographed covers

Librettos, programs, and additional material relating to comic operas written by other composers and librettists for D'Oyly Carte's Opera Company and other companies.

A collection of 47 signed watercolor designs by Atillio Comelli for the original production of Sullivan's comic opera The Chieftain at the Savoy Theatre, London, 1894.

A complete run of The Tomahawk: A Saturday Journal of Satire (London, 1867-70) with entries relating to early separate works by Gilbert and Sullivan. A complete run of Good Words for the Young (London, 1868-72) containing Gilbert's illustrations for his father's serialized fantasy, King George's Middy. An extensive run of The Era Almanack and Annual (London, 1870-1900) containing contributions by Gilbert as well as other contemporary theatrical figures

Nineteenth century advertising material documenting the phenomenal popularity of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas in America, including more than 250 chromolithographed advertising trade cards, as well as other mass-produced items and printed ephemera.

A large collection of over 400 illustrated pages from nineteenth century periodicals relating to Gilbert, Sullivan, D'Oyly Carte, and the operas.

Photographic material relating to the Gilbert and Sullivan operas, including hundreds of nineteenth century cabinet photographs, cartes de visite and tintypes. A collection of early twentieth century postcards with portraits of principals of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company.

Nineteenth century and later posters and other ephemera designed for specific productions.

Several hundred books and pamphlets including historical and critical studies, biographical, bibliographic and other reference material, and a collection of books about the operas written for children.

A collection of twentieth century periodicals published to provide news and scholarly material for the Gilbert and Sullivan community.

Detailed research notes on items in the collection; correspondence with other collectors and scholars; source books and scrap books; photocopies of scholarly articles.

Creator

Dates

  • Creation: 1870-2020

Language of Materials

English

Extent

10 linear feet

Access

The Harold A. Kanthor Collection of Gilbert and Sullivan is open for research use. Researchers are advised to contact the Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation Department prior to visiting. Upon arrival, researchers will also be asked to fill out a registration form and provide photo identification.

Use

In consultation with a curator, reproductions may be made upon request. Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from a curator. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Harold Kanthor M.D. beginning in 2014.

Preferred Citation

[Item title, item date], Harold A. Kanthor Collection of Gilbert and Sullivan, D.486, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester

Arrangement

The posters are arranged in numerical order using a unique identifier.

Accruals

Accruals are expected for this collection.

Related Materials

The following description provides details of the remaining material in the Harold A. Kanthor Collection of Gilbert and Sullivan. This material is currently being held by Dr. Kanthor, however, arrangements may be made to use these items in the Department of Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation. Please contact the department for further information.



This comprehensive collection consists of material relating to W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan; their collaboration which produced fourteen comic operas (1871-1896); D'Oyly Carte's Opera Company which initially produced them and continued to do so until 1982; and contemporary artists and personalities. The collection has its focus in nineteenth century material, and documents the varied artistic endeavors of both Gilbert and Sullivan, the literary and musical significance of their collaboration, and the social phenomenon engendered by the popularity of these productions.

Some highlights of the collection include:

- First and early editions of the British librettos documenting Gilbert's characteristic changes to text and lyrics.

- Programs and souvenirs from the original productions of all fourteen Gilbert and Sullivan operas (1871-1896).

- A collection of nineteenth century American librettos containing additional early variants of Gilbert's lyrics and texts.

- Early programs documenting the popularity of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas in America, including an extensive archive of H.M.S. Pinafore material from Boston 1878-1879.

- Early acting editions, librettos, programs and periodicals documenting Gilbert's career as writer and illustrator of prose and verse and his stature as the pre-eminent British dramatist of his day. An extensive run of Fun (London) 1861-1876 containing his early contributions. A comprehensive collection of his published works.

- A collection of vocal scores of the operas and early sheet music including Sullivan's popular songs and anthems. Dance arrangements of music from the Gilbert and Sullivan operas with color lithographed covers.

- Autograph and manuscript material of both Gilbert and Sullivan, including Sullivan’s musical manuscript setting of a song by Benjamin Disraeli. Published works with ownership or presentation inscriptions, including a presentation copy from Gilbert to his wife, and acting editions with the ownership signature of Gilbert's mother.

- Librettos, programs, and additional material relating to comic operas written by other composers and librettists for D'Oyly Carte's Opera Company.

- A complete run of The Tomahawk: A Saturday Journal of Satire (London, 1867-70) with entries relating to early separate works by Gilbert and Sullivan. A complete run of Good Words for the Young (London, 1868-72) containing Gilbert’s illustrations for his father’s serialized fantasy, King George’s Middy. An extensive run of The Era Almanack and Annual (London, 1870-1900) containing contributions by Gilbert as well as other contemporary theatrical figures.

- A collection of 47 signed watercolor designs by Atillio Comelli for the original production of Sullivan’s comic opera The Chieftain at the Savoy Theatre, London, 1894.

- A large archive of correspondence between Victorian entertainer Corney Grain and his theatrical and musical contemporaries, which includes autograph letters from W.S. Gilbert, Arthur Sullivan and their circle.

- Several hundred books and pamphlets including historical and critical studies, biographical, bibliographic and other reference material, and a collection of books about the operas written for children.

- Nineteenth century advertising material documenting the phenomenal popularity of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas in America, including more than 250 chromolithographed advertising trade cards, as well as other mass-produced items and printed ephemera.

- A large collection of over 400 illustrated pages from nineteenth century periodicals relating to Gilbert, Sullivan, D'Oyly Carte, and the operas.

- Photographic material, including hundreds of nineteenth century cabinet photographs and cartes de visite, and early twentieth century postcards with portraits of principals of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company.

- Nineteenth and twentieth century posters and other ephemera designed for specific productions.

- A collection of twentieth century periodicals published to provide news and scholarly material for the Gilbert and Sullivan community.

- Detailed research notes on items in the collection; correspondence with other collectors and scholars; source books and scrap books; photocopies of scholarly articles.

Title
Harold A. Kanthor Collection of Gilbert and Sullivan
Status
In Progress
Author
Harold A. Kanthor
Date
2017-2022
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Library Details

Part of the Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation Library

Contact:
Rochester NY 14627-0055 USA