Opera Guide– Thespis, by Gilbert & Sullivan

Lost First Collaboration Between the Writers of HMS Pinafore

Oct 24, 2009

Thespis was the first Gilbert & Sullivan opera. It was never published, and most of the music was destroyed in a fire. Only two numbers remain.

Thespis, or The Gods Grown Old was the first collaboration between Arthur Sullivan, then a mostly unsuccessful composer of operettas, and William S. Gilbert, then primarily a writer of burlesques. Gilbert and Sullivan's initial meeting in 1870 did not go well, but, in need of cash, Sullivan agreed to set Thespis in the fall of 1871.

The first performance, on December 26, 1871 (Boxing Day) at the Gaiety Theatre, had only a week's rehearsal and was booed mercilessly. After additional revisions and rehearsals, however, Thespis was moderately successful.

It was never published and the only known vocal score destroyed in a fire in 1960, but two of the numbers survive: "The Little Maid of Arcadee," which was published as a ballad, and "Climbing over Rocky Mountain," which was re-used in The Pirates of Penzance.

The libretto of Thespis still exists in its entirety, and two modern composers, Colin Johnson and Quade Winter, have set new versions. Winter's Thespis premiered at the Ohio Light Opera in 1996.

Act I - A Ruined Temple on Mount Olympus

Diana and Apollo, now aged, argue. Mercury, the only one of the gods still young, arrives with stolen goods from the humans. An elderly, decrepit Jupiter enters in a dressing-gown and night-cap, followed by Mars. The gods remember the olden days when humans would offer them sacrifices, and bemoan the fact that humans are now intruding into the temples on Mount Olympus.

The gods exit, and Sparkeion and Nicemis enter; they are to be married. They argue; Nicemis spurns Sparkeion's advances because they are not truly married yet. The other thespians enter with picnic baskets ("Climbing over Rocky Mountain"), and Thespis, the theater manager, sings about a benevolent railway director ("I once knew a chap"; apparently the opera's most popular number).

The gods appear, and Jupiter and Thespis agree that their companies shall trade places for a year.

Act II - Mount Olympus, One Year Later

Mount Olympus is in trouble due to Thespis's inefficient rule as King of the gods. Sparkeion, who is filling Apollo's place, is now in love with Pretteia, the substitute Diana, and so the sun shines all night.

The real gods return in distress, and the substitute gods hold the yearly court to hear mortal complaints, including the problems of day and night as well as similarly confused seasons and weather. Tired of the problems, the gods curse the thespians to become "eminent tragedians, whom no one ever goes to see."

Other Operas by Gilbert & Sullivan

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