They had all flown. I was not actually ashamed of the performance, but I felt it was not up to our usual standard. I am often accused of never being satisfied. That is true, I never am. When I reach that petrifying state, it will be time someone shoots me because there would be no further development.
Complete satisfaction is the refrigeration of all effort.
At the moment, as I have said, we are denuded of soloists. Fewer people seem to be interested in singing. The screaming, grunting, and moaning which are today accepted and encouraged as an example of the human voice, mean that these young people who have a decent voice, misuse it. The quality of singing required for Gilbert and Sullivan is rarer today than it was in the early days of the Theatre. This may be a regional shortage, but I have heard the same moan from many people, when I have attended conferences in different parts of the country.