Tea with Arthur Sullivan

I don't know if anyone has seen those little books at Boarders or Barnes and Noble, they're fiction interviews with deceased famous people, like Coffee with Oscar Wilde (which I just so happen to own). Either way, I'm borrowing the idea for this blog entry.

Me: I really like this monument they've created for you  What do you think of the muse crying?

AS: I have to admit, I am a fan of it. I think it's tasteful, and, after all, I was a national treasure. My death wasn't exactly sudden, and the public mourned me. I died in London, from heart failure after battling pneumonia. Nasty stuff.

Me: You were relatively young when you died, weren't you?

AS: Yes, only 58. I had plenty of composing yet to do, but my time was up.

Me: And your buried in St. Paul's Cathedral, right? I should stop by and check it out.

AS: Unfortunately yes. I wanted to be buried in Brompton Cemetery with my parents and my brother, but the Queen ordered my body to be buried at St. Paul's. Sure, it's an honor, but it's not what I wanted. Maybe it was because of my knighthood status, or my favour with the Queen. Being dead though, I didn't get much say in the matter.

Me: Ha, well I guess not. You received numerous honors in your lifetime besides the knighthood.

AS: Yes, I was awarded a Doctor in Music from both Cambridge and Oxford.

Me: Did you attend both universities?

AS: Neither, actually. I started out as a choirboy at the Chapel Royal. I then attended the Royal Academy of Music and then went on to the Leipzig Conservatoire in Germany.

Me: You were quite the accomplished musician.

AS: I started composing while I was at the Chapel Royal, just anthems and things. I was greatly influenced by Felix Mendelssohn. I love his musical style.

Me: Your own compositions, though, have a very unique sense to them. It's almost impossible to not be able to identify a Gilbert and Sullivan opera.

AS: Well I did a good deal of composing and writing operas before I met Gilbert. Of course, my operas were not nearly as popular without Gilbert. But I did compose other works. I was commissioned to write a sacred choral work for the 1880 Leeds Festival, and again in 1886. There were plenty of smaller things I composed, but I'm sure you want to know about the operas.

Me: Well, it is what you are best known for.

AS: True.

Me: Although this is not to say you would not have been as successful on your own.

AS: Yes it is.

Me: ... Well, I have to say, I think Pirates of Penzance is my favorite of your operettas.

AS: Mmm, yes. That was one of our widely successful operas. As well as H.M.S. Pinafore.

Me: In Pirates, you actually make fun of Pinafore. The Modern Major General sings, "and whistle all the airs from that infernal nonsense, Pinafore."

AS: Well, Pinafore wasn't a success right off the bat. And you can't take yourself too seriously, you know.

Me: Fair enough. You also recycled some of your material, is that correct? "Sorry Her Lot" is in both Pinafore and Pirates.

AS: Well we thought it a nice piece and didn't want it to go to waste.

Me: I agree, it is a very nice piece. I won't ask you too much about your other works.

AS: Oh, I know. Princess Ida and Ruddigore were no good, according to the public. Everyone just wanted to see The Mikado and The Gondoliers. Although my own personal favorite is The Yoemen of the Guard. Again, not a great success, but my most ambitious score, and I am quite proud of it.

Me: Your composition style is very structured and rhythmic. And, having performed selections myself, quite challenging.

AS: Well that's the point. Why should it be easy? My melodies come from rhythm. And with a librettist to feed my imagination, my creativity just takes over. I drew inspiration from all kinds of composers: Handel, Schubert, Debussy. Debussy and I were actually good friends. All music influences all music. Although, personally, I much prefer the classical style. I don't bother with that contemporary stuff.

Me: You mentioned your brother earlier. Were you close with your family?

AS: I loved my brother Fred very much. He died young, only 39. I took to visiting his family frequently, and became guardian to his seven children. Then Charlotte, Fred's wife, moved with six of her children to Los Angeles. Herbert, the eldest stayed with me. I had no desire to move, but I paid for the trip and supported the family financially.

Me: That must have bee hard on you.

AS: It was, but I had my work to distract me and keep me busy. Sadly, Charlotte died a year after the move. The children stayed in Los Angeles and raised each other. I continued to financially support them.  

Me: Wow.

AS: Family is family. Forever. After I Gilbert and I completed The Mikado, I traveled to Los Angeles and took the family sightseeing though the AMerican West. I took care of those children my whole life. I included them in my will to ensure they would always be taken care of.

Me: You must have been a wonderful surrogate father.

AS: No one could replace their father, but I did what I could. I hate to cut our chat short, but I have a prior engagement with Gilbert this afternoon.

Me: The two of you are still working together?

AS: Have to keep yourself busy, you know.