Gilbert and Sullivan: Pineapple Poll, Belaye’s Hornpipe

The copyright on Arthur Sullivan's music expired in 1950, but W. S. Gilbert's words enjoyed protection for another eleven years. The Sadler's Wells Theater in London created a ballet based on Gilbert's ballad "The Bumboat Woman's Story" and set it to music arranged completely from Sullivan. The result was Pineapple Poll, from which we have just heard excerpts. The task of arranging Sullivan's music fell to Australian-born conductor CHARLES MACKERRAS. The ballet premiered in March 1951 and was an immediate success, remaining in Sadler's Wells repertory for years to come.