Savoy Theatre, Strand, London
The plot was a complicated one and the opening night was an anxious one. However, all seemed to go well though the notices in the press the following morning were very mixed. It appeared that the love affair between the British nation and Gilbert and Sullivan was slowly coming to an end. Some of the press were very critical but others were merely thankful for a continuance of the Savoy tradition. According to the critic for Hearth and Home, ‘The British public clings loyally to its old superstitions, one of which is to the effect that Messrs.Gilbert and Sullivan are the only gentlemen who can turn out a creditable comic opera.’ Consequently the success of The Grand Duke at the Savoy was a foregone conclusion.
The Grand Duke enjoyed a relatively short run, closing on 10th July 1896.
Our 2025 co-production with Scottish Opera and Opera Holland Park
Learn MoreThe 150th Anniversary co-production of Trial by Jury, in a double bill with a new commission, A Matter of Misconduct by Emma Jenkins and Toby Hession
Learn MoreIn 2025, we will collaborate with Scottish Opera for a fourth time. We are co-producing a brand new production of The Merry Widow by Franz Lehár and, to celebrate our sesquicentennial, a new production of Trial by Jury.
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