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Royal Holloway College Savoy Opera Society

Ruddygore (1978)

I'd known Ruddigore since I first heard it in a BBC recording featuring Patricia Routledge in the mid-1960s. As I remember, the way SOS worked in the late 1970s was that you put yourself forward as producer and the SOS committee decided what you were going to produce. The role of musical director was shared by Malcolm Floyd and Robin Cole, and that of producer (and director) was shared by Rachel Pask and me.

When casting, we found that we had an excellent soprano with a wonderful young, clear, flexible voice. She was then known as Sue Bullock, a first year music student. Susan Bullock went on to study singing and turned professional in the 1980s, singing with the English National Opera and later gaining an international reputation. It's not everyday you get the chance to direct a budding star.

We also had an extremely fine bass-baritone to sing the role of Sir Despard Murgatroyd. Another voice that would go far. You can read about David Barrell's later career here.

You can find the full cast and orchestra here.

I attempted a return - as far as we could in those days - to the 1886 score, by using the original overture and so-called "Basingstole Finale". Almost all of the important numbers were recorded, including the Basingstoke Finale, and you can hear the all recording as mp3s on this page. We also reverted to Gilbert's original spelling of the title.

Click on any of these thumbnails to see the larger version
Click on a song title to hear the mp3 version

Act One
	Rose Maybud (Susan Bullock) sings "If somebody there chanced to be"
	Robin Oakapple (Chris Bayton) and Richard Dauntless (Chris Moore) sing "My boy you may take from me"
	Sir Despard Murgatroyd (David Barrell) and Chorus of Bridemaids sing "Oh, why am I moody and sad?"
	Sir Despard Murgatroyd (David Barrell) sings "Oh, why am I moody and sad?"
	Old Adam (Barry Creasy), Richard Dauntless (Chris Moore), Robin Oakapple (Chris Bayton), Rose Maybud (Susan Bullock), Dame Hannah (Sarah Bishop), Zorah (Daphne Lobjoit) in the Act One Finale Madrigal
Act Two
	Sir Roderick Murgatroyd (Chris Painter) sings "When the night wind howls"
	Sir Despard Murgatroyd (David Barrell), Mad Margaret (Anne Dick) ask Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd (Chris Bayton) "Why not die?"
	Sir Despard Murgatroyd (David Barrell)and Mad Margaret (Anne Dick) sing "I once was a very abandoned person"
	Dame Hannah (Sarah Bishop), Old Adam (Barry Creasy), Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd (Chris Bayton), Rose Maybud (Susan Bullock), Richard Dauntless (Chris Moore), Sir Despard Murgatroyd (David Barrell) at "Madly, passionately"
	Sir Roderick Murgatroyd (Chris Painter) with Dame Hannah (Sarah Bishop) singing "There grew a little flower 'neath a great oak tree"
	Curtain calls on the last night for producers (Rachel Pask, Chris Goddard) and musical directors (Robin Cole, Malcolm Floyd).
	OK, that's me.
	Curtain calls on the last night for the cast: Chris Paynter, David Barrell, Anne Dick, Chris Bayton, Susan Bullock, Chris Moore, Gillian Pinchbeck Daphne Lobjoit, and Barry Creasy

© Chris Goddard, 15 September, 2005