Performances 7-8 June 2023 at Queen Elizabeth Hall, London.
Gilbert & Sullivan’s ‘Princess Ida’ with Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment performed here less than half a mile from where it was first performed in 1884 at The Savoy Theatre.
The timpani are 24″, 24″ & 27″ Hawkes with thick English calf heads (range is low G up to E). Percussion includes a Dresdner snare drum, early C20 (?) English bass drum, Istanbul cymbals.
Since this part is definitely written for only one player (perhaps a space issue?) the percussion contribution cannot be as involved or interesting as in other G&S works.
Other works premiered around this time include ‘Carmen’, Brahms 4, Dvorak 7, ‘Parsifal’ and ‘Manfred’ Symphony.
![](https://www.adrianbending.com/user-uploads/2023/06/1686468306788-1024x768.jpg)
![](https://www.adrianbending.com/user-uploads/2023/06/Ida-full-cast-1024x514.jpg)