# What should my fourth Gilbert & Sullivan opera be? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 13, 2013, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-my-fourth-gilbert-sullivan-opera-be/660912 "2013-06-13T16:31:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2013, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-my-fourth-gilbert-sullivan-opera-be/660912/1 "2013-06-13T16:31:27Z")
I’m a fan of the big three: Pirates, Pinafore, and Mikado. In fact I have the D’Oyly Carte recordings of all of them, and have listened to each a dozen times or more. I enjoy them as much for Gilbert’s wry humor as for Sullivan’s eclectic tunesmithing. So, where do I go next? ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2013, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-my-fourth-gilbert-sullivan-opera-be/660912/2 "2013-06-13T16:44:15Z")
I vote for \*[Patience or Bunthorne’s Bride.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patience_%28opera%29#Musical_numbers)\*It’s a parody of the aesthetic movement and the Pre-Raphaelites. It has one of my favorite G&S numbers, [“Prithee Pretty Maiden.”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patience_%28opera%29#Musical_numbers) ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2013, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-my-fourth-gilbert-sullivan-opera-be/660912/3 "2013-06-13T16:44:50Z")
I’ve always been partial to [Trial by Jury.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trial_by_Jury) ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2013, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-my-fourth-gilbert-sullivan-opera-be/660912/4 "2013-06-13T16:53:13Z")
I’d suggest either Iolanthe or Ruddigore. I like the Sorceror very much as well. Be warned that the Yeoman of the Guard is the one G&S operetta that doesn’t have a happy ending. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-my-fourth-gilbert-sullivan-opera-be/660912/5 "2013-06-14T17:12:18Z")
Well, not exactly a consensus there. Five suggestions from three people. 🙂 I think I’m going to try Iolanthe, but I’m not sure why. Because it’s first alphabetically? I’ll let you know how it goes. ---
**Author:** ![Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-my-fourth-gilbert-sullivan-opera-be/660912/6 "2013-06-14T17:49:35Z")
I need to pick up a fifth opera, myself. I love Pinafore, Pirates, Mikado and Trial, but I’ve heard hardly any of the rest. Trial by Jury is a short one, and worth it just for the judge’s song, where he describes the path of his career advancement (“I fell in love with a rich attorney’s elderly, ugly daughter”). ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-my-fourth-gilbert-sullivan-opera-be/660912/7 "2013-06-14T17:58:08Z")
> [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](#): > > I need to pick up a fifth opera, myself. I love Pinafore, Pirates, Mikado and Trial, but I’ve heard hardly any of the rest. > > Trial by Jury is a short one, and worth it just for the judge’s song, where he describes the path of his career advancement (“I fell in love with a rich attorney’s elderly, ugly daughter”). Not just that one - “Trial” is basically made of win. From the jury instructions, to the Mutton Explanation for Infidelity, to the collective infatuation with the plaintiff - you owe it to yourself to listen to Trial by Jury. And then see it live. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-my-fourth-gilbert-sullivan-opera-be/660912/8 "2013-06-14T23:55:19Z")
Ruddigore, followed by Trial By Jury. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-my-fourth-gilbert-sullivan-opera-be/660912/9 "2013-06-14T23:57:14Z")
I’ll second _Patience_. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-my-fourth-gilbert-sullivan-opera-be/660912/10 "2013-06-15T00:32:49Z")
Iolanthe has the Lord Chancellor’s Nightmare song, which makes it worth it. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-my-fourth-gilbert-sullivan-opera-be/660912/11 "2013-06-15T04:32:30Z")
_Iolanthe_ is the true embodiment of everything that’s excellent! ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-my-fourth-gilbert-sullivan-opera-be/660912/12 "2013-06-15T13:33:38Z")
I’d go with either \*Patience \*or _The Gondoliers._ ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-my-fourth-gilbert-sullivan-opera-be/660912/13 "2013-06-15T17:23:23Z")
Princess Ida is obscure but has the most beautiful music, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-my-fourth-gilbert-sullivan-opera-be/660912/14 "2013-06-15T17:29:02Z")
Why not [write yo](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yif-5xBbxd4)[ur own](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x59vFkATXR4)?