Page "Gilbert and Sullivan" Paragraph 37

Iolanthe ( 1882 ) was the first of the operas to open at the Savoy.

The fully electric Savoy made possible numerous special effects, such as sparkling magic wands for the female chorus of fairies.

The opera poked fun at English law and the House of Lords and made much of the war between the sexes.

The critics felt that Sullivan's work in Iolanthe had taken a step forward.

The Daily Telegraph wrote, " The composer has risen to his opportunity, and we are disposed to account Iolanthe his best effort in all the Gilbertian series.

" Similarly, the Theatre asserted that " the music of Iolanthe is Dr Sullivan's chef d ' oeuvre.

The quality throughout is more even, and maintained at a higher standard, than in any of his earlier works ..."