Gilbert & Sullivan: H.M.S. Pinafore
Pinaforeis a hit that never fails in production, and that gets performed everywhere, from elementary schools with piano accompaniment to full-scale extravaganzas in major opera houses and theaters. In fact I would go so far as to say that rarely in the history of music has there been a happier marriage of words and music than Gilbert and Sullivan, and this piece is one of their best.--David Hurwitz