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ENO’s Gilbert & Sullivan Walking Tour Review

ENO’s Gilbert & Sullivan Walking Tour Review
ENO’s Gilbert & Sullivan Walking Tour Review

As soon as I set eyes on the ENO’s Gilbert and Sullivan walking tour I pounced. There was everything to like about it…free tickets, curated by my favourite bass baritone John Savournin and an opportunity to hear great opera sung outside of a traditional auditorium.

ENO’s Gilbert and Sullivan Walking Tour

The ENO’s Gilbert and Sullivan walking tour started at the entrance to the Savoy Hotel. This was my very first surprise. I have been basking in the misapprehension that the Savoy entrance was on the Strand next to the Savoy Theatre. Who would have thought that an even grander hotel entrance with floral gardens existed behind the other grand hotel entrance?

In the midst of the flora and foliage are monuments paying homage to the combined talents of Gilbert and Sullivan.

 

Monuments and statues to Gilbert and Sullivan grace Victoria Embankment.
Monuments and statues to Gilbert and Sullivan grace Victoria Embankment.

John Savournin kicked things off wearing a black topper and giving an equally stylish rendition.

John Savournin kicked the opera tour off in style.
John Savournin kicked the opera tour off in style.

We were then whisked away to meet a handcuffed Ruairi Bowen singing a sad lament while dolefully awaiting his execution.

A doleful performance from a singer about to be executed.
A doleful performance from a singer about to be executed.

Zoe Drummond convinced us of her prim and ladylike virtues with melodic voice, all the while dancing demurely with a parasol. She wasn’t even fazed when an elderly old crock like myself tripped on the grass in front of her. Next time I hope she chooses a younger and more agile audience participant.

Prim ladylike and ultimately unfazed vocal performance.
Prim ladylike and ultimately unfazed vocal performance.

Trevor Eliot Bowes made a fine copper with his menacing Victorian gestures and his cartoonish antics. His truncheon holding and silly walk was straight out of a silent movie accompanied by a lively yet stern vocal performance.  He was a proper “job’s worth”.

A comically stern vocal performance from a Victorian policeman.
A comically stern vocal performance from a Victorian policeman.

On our travels down Whitehall we came across an overheating Ossian Huskian in full bear skinned hat regalia who entertained us royally. He caused much consternation to bemused strolling tourists.

A Royal opera treat from a singing soldier.
A Royal opera treat from a singing soldier.

We met Sir Joseph (Richard Suart), “The Ruler of the Queen’s Navee” outside Admiralty Arch. It was a perfect moment, the magnificence of Trafalgar Square and the Admiralty buildings, an eccentric and exquisitely attired admiral in his embroidery and feathers singing the most famous of Gilbert and Sullivan Songs “When I was a Lad”.

The spendors of Admiralty Arch and Trafalgar Square contributed to the tour.
The spendors of Admiralty Arch and Trafalgar Square contributed to the tour.
Meeting the Ruler of the Queen's Navee was the highlight of ENO’s Gilbert & Sullivan Walking Tour
Meeting the Ruler of the Queen’s Navee was the highlight of ENO’s Gilbert & Sullivan Walking Tour

We ended the tour back at the London Coliseum where we were met by two dancing and singing faeries, so sweet they looked as if they had been plucked from the pages of Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairy Tales.

Sweet natured dancing faeries conclude ENO’s Gilbert & Sullivan Walking Tour
Sweet natured dancing faeries conclude ENO’s Gilbert & Sullivan Walking Tour

The creative and office team who had masterminded this wonderful tour were there to wave us off and we were each presented with a beautifully illustrated book of Jonathan Miller’s production of The Mikado.

It was a perfect day…perfect opera, perfect weather and perfect logistics. It is productions like this that make the ENO such an important cultural asset to London.

If you are a fan of Gilbert and Sullivan you may enjoy our review of the ENO’s HMS Pinafore. 

The ENO’s Gilbert & Sullivan Walking Tour is now sold out but keep an eye open for similar ENO initiatives and of course, book Iolanthe which is on from the 5-25 October.