Resources to use in preparation for attending the Opera
The Pirates of Penzance performed in the Alice Busch Opera Theater, Cooperstown

Welcome—classroom teacher, music teacher, home school teacher, librarian, parent and lifelong learners, I have gathered materials for you to use to prepare for a visit to the Glimmerglass Festival to see The Pirates of Penzance by Sir Arthur Sullivan & W.S. Gilbert.
                                                                                                Rhonda King, Retired Library Media Specialist

Learning Objectives

A.   Learn about Opera

a.    Brief History of Opera (pdf)

b.    The artists who give voice to Opera (pdf)

c.    The artists who work behind the scenes (pdf)

B.   Learn about Sir Arthur Sullivan and Sir William Schwenck Gilbert

   Sir Arthur Sullivan                                                Sir William S. Gilbert

a.    Watch video(s) for information

i.    Arthur Sullivan: Maestro of Operatic Brilliance: Composer & Arranger Biography

ii.    A Beginner’s Guide to Gilbert & Sullivan

b.    Read for background information

i.    Sir Arthur Sullivan

1. Arthur Sullivan, British Composer

2.    Arthur Sullivan

3.    Sullivan Biography

ii.    Sir Willaim S. Gilbert

1.    William Schwenck  Gilbert, British Playwright

2.    W. S. Gilbert

3.    The Life of W.S. Gilbert

   iii.    Gilbert & Sullivan’s Life Timeline (pdf)

    iv.    Beginner’s Guide to Comic Opera

    v.    Understanding Comic Opera: A Journey into Musical Theater

C.   Learn about The Pirates of Penzance Written by WS Gilbert & Composed by Arthur Sullivan

a.    Read, Listen, and Watch

i.    Synopsis of The Pirates of Penzance

1.    One of the most humorous situations in this operetta occurs when Frederic (who was apprenticed to a band of pirates until his 21st “birthday”) is presented with a “paradox” by the Pirate King and Ruth. Frederic was born on February 29th in a leap year and technically his “birthday” occurred only every four years. In the “Paradox Song”, the Pirate King and Ruth convince Frederic that his contract of indenture requires him to be a pirate until he is 84 years old.

ii.    Character List (pdf)

iii.    Vocabulary for The Pirates of Penzance (pdf)

iv.    Vocabulary from The Pirates of Penzance Crossword Puzzle (pdf)

v.    Vocabulary from The Pirates of Penzance Crossword Puzzle Answers (pdf)

vi.    What is a Patter Song?

1.    The Elements (song)  click on the media player on the right side of the page to hear Tom Leyear sing this song.

2.    Gilbert & Sullivan’s most famous patter song-Major-General’s Song click on the media player on the right side of the page to hear George Baker sing this song.

vii.    Talk like a Pirate

1.    How to Talk Like a Pirate

2.    Pirate Words & Phrases (pdf)

3.    Pirate Words Word search (pdf)

4.    Pirate Words Word search Answers (pdf)

viii.    Lyrics & Music of The Pirates of Penzance

1.    Read lyrics for each song in The Pirates of Penzance

2.    Listen to the music of each song from The Pirates of Penzance by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Each song is listed on the right of the screen.

 ix.    Watch The Pirates of Penzance

1.    The Pirates of Penzance—2006 Opera Australia

2.    The Pirates of Penzance (Full Show) presented by the Valley Light Opera, Academy of Music, Northampton, Massachusetts

3.    The Pirates of Penzance (Full movie) with Kevin Kline,  Angela Lansbury, and  Linda Ronstadt

D.   Resources Cited (pdf)