The Sorcerer

operetta by Gilbert and Sullivan

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July 17, 2026

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The Sorcerer is an operetta created by the renowned English playwright and humorist W.S. Gilbert and composer Arthur Sullivan. It premiered in 1877 and was the first of their fourteen collaborations, which became known as the "Savoy Operas".12

The operetta tells the story of a young nobleman who uses a love potion to make everyone in the village fall in love with the first person they see. This leads to widespread chaos and romantic entanglements, as it disrupts social order and class distinctions. The work is characterized by Gilbert's witty lyrics and Sullivan's charming melodies, typical of their satirical yet musically inventive style.12

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Arthur Sullivan
The first of these, The Sorcerer (1877), was followed by H.M.S. Pinafore (1878), whose eventual success was phenomenal, and The Pirates of Penzance (1879, New York City; 1880, London).
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The first of these, The Sorcerer (1877), was followed by H.M.S. Pinafore (1878), whose eventual success was phenomenal, and The Pirates of Penzance (1879, New York City; 1880, London).
Read More