Gilbert's comic opera His Excellency, with music by Frank Osmond Carr, was first performed on October 27, 1894, with a cast including such familiar faces from the Savoy as George Grossmith (as Griffenfeld), Rutland Barrington (as the Regent), and Jessie Bond. Most of the reviews praised Gilbert's libretto, but Carr's music was less well thought of and the opera had a closed after 162 performances.

• Background Notes

• Synopsis by Arthur Robinson

• Review from The Times, 29th October, 1894.

• Libretto, submitted to the Archive by Clifton Coles
  • Microsoft Word version [220Kb]
  • PDF version (272Kb file)

• Vocal Score:
  • Arthur Robinson has donated a copy of the original Vocal Score, Music by F. Osmond Carr. It can be downloaded as a single PDF file [18Mb]
  • The vocal score for His Excellency can be purchased from Christopher Browne's Gilbert & Sullivan Catalogue.
  • Vocal scores and libretti of His Excellency may be rented from St. David's Players of Cullompton, Exeter, England. Send queries to Ian Bond at Ian@kentisview.freeserve.co.uk.

• Opening Night Cast with pictures of Barrington, Bond, McIntosh and Playfair in their roles.

• Programme from the London production.

• MIDI Files. A complete set of MIDI and MIDI Karaoke files for His Excellency created by Colin M. Johnson.

• His Excellency CD — advertisement for a CD of His Excellency with music by Terry Hawes "in the style of Sullivan."