Gilbert and Sullivan and musical theatre
Study note
The UK has a strong tradition of musical theatre that goes back many years. In the 19th century, the partnership of Gilbert and Sullivan wrote a series of popular comic operas, including HMS Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado, which combined witty words with lively music.
In more recent times, Andrew Lloyd Webber has written the music for many worldwide stage hits, among them Cats and The Phantom of the Opera, which have been performed in theatres around the world. So for this topic, link Gilbert and Sullivan with 19th-century comic operas such as The Mikado, and Andrew Lloyd Webber with modern musicals like Cats. Note that William Wordsworth was a poet, not a composer.
Memory tip: Gilbert and Sullivan: comic operas (The Mikado); Lloyd Webber: Cats, Phantom of the Opera.
Practise this topic
Question 1 of 3
Who wrote 19th century comic operas such as HMS Pinafore and The Mikado?
Show all questions and answers for Gilbert and Sullivan and musical theatre(3 questions with explanations)
Gilbert and Sullivan and musical theatre: questions, answers and explanations
1. Who wrote 19th century comic operas such as HMS Pinafore and The Mikado?
- Henry Purcell
- Gilbert and Sullivan
- Andrew Lloyd Webber
- Benjamin Britten
Correct answer: Gilbert and Sullivan
Gilbert and Sullivan wrote comic operas including The Mikado and HMS Pinafore.
2. Which composer wrote the music for Cats and The Phantom of the Opera?
- Andrew Lloyd Webber
- Sir William Walton
- Gilbert and Sullivan
- Gustav Holst
Correct answer: Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote the music for Cats and The Phantom of the Opera.
3. Which of these is NOT a famous British composer?
- William Wordsworth
- Benjamin Britten
- Edward Elgar
- Gustav Holst
Correct answer: William Wordsworth
William Wordsworth was a poet. Elgar, Holst and Britten are famous British composers.
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