Arthur Sullivan - Songs for Tenor (David Webb)

Information

Composer: Arthur Sullivan

1. The Mikado: A Wandering Minstrel (arr. John Andrews)
2. The Mikado: Were I Not to Koko Plighted
3. The Gondoliers: We're Called Gondolieri
4. The Gondoliers: Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes (arr. John Andrews)
5. Ruddigore: I Shipped d'Ye See
6. Ruddigore: The Battle's Roar is Over
7. The Pirates of Penzance: Oh, is There Not One Maiden Breast?
8. The Pirates of Penzance: Stay, Frederic, Stay... Ah, Leave Me Not to Pine
9. The Rose of Persia: Drinking Song
10. The Yeoman of the Guard: Is Life a Boon? (arr. John Andrews)
11. The Yeoman of the Guard: Free From His Fetters Grim
12. Utopia, Limited: A Tenor, All Singers Above
13. The Sorcerer: Love Feeds on Many Kinds of Food (arr. John Andrews)
14. The Golden Legend: It is the Sea (arr. John Andrews)
15. The Light of the World: Refrain Thy Voice from Weeping (arr. John Andrews)
16. The Prodigal Son: How Many Hired Servants (arr. John Andrews)
17. The Lost Chord (arr. John Andrews)
18. The Pirates of Penzance: I am the Very Model of a Modern Major General (arr. John Andrews)

David Webb, tenor

Jennifer France, soprano (2, 6 & 8)

Charles Rice, baritone (3)

Academy of Ancient Music

John Andrews, conductor

Date: 2026

Label: Resonus Limited

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Tenor David Webb’s debut recording redefines the music of Arthur Sullivan, presenting him as a composer of striking clarity, restraint, and Savoy theatre polish. Accompanied by the Academy of Ancient Music, this project represents the first historical-instrument recording of Gilbert and Sullivan, successfully capturing the authentic scale, color, and texture originally heard by Victorian audiences. Drawing on years of repertoire expertise, the artists deliver an instinctive performance that spans three decades of Sullivan's career, from early sacred works to late operas. The historically informed instrumentation allows William S. Gilbert's lyrics to carry with newfound directness, highlighting Sullivan's enduring lyricism and wit.

British tenor David Webb, an alumnus of the Royal College of Music and a former English National Opera Harewood Artist, established his professional connection to Arthur Sullivan during his ENO debut as Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance. His versatile career spans leading European operatic stages, including Glyndebourne and the Salzburg Festival, alongside acclaimed concert performances as a sought-after Bach Evangelist. Beyond music, Webb is dedicated to mental health and cancer research philanthropy, recently completing twenty-four marathons in twenty-four days. This debut solo album represents a culmination of his enduring, career-long artistic relationship with Sullivan’s repertoire.