That’s exactly what Oldham Choral did last night at Middleton arena. They took two of Gilbert and Sullivan’s sparkling operettas and turned them into an evening of pure joy for the expectant audience.

Oldham Choral Society have now shared their concert versions of G&S works over the last five years and bring to an end a delightful look at these Victorian gems.

Under the baton and directorship of Nigel P. Wilkinson the Choral Society and the National Festival Orchestra, along with an array of experienced soloists, were brought together to weave their magic.

Chairman, Fred Jones, says, ‘Many of the choir look forward to this ‘end of term treat’, mainly because of the wonderful soloists and Donald Maxwell’s terrific narration. It’s like a ‘night out’ for us as well as the audience.’

Soloists were Donald Maxwell, who gave his interpretation of a G&S performance in Rochdale, conducted by Boris Karloff, and Kathleen Wilkinson, Claire Lees, Philip J. Hindle, James Elliot, Stephanie Stanway, with James Ogden, in the role of the Duke of Plaza Toro.

Jim Ogden is a stalwart of local Savoy Operas, both performing and directing, and formally retired from solo work after this performance, settling in to enhance the choral society’s baritones.

Ruddigore didn’t edit for the concert version as well as The Gondoliers. Despite the Illustrated London News reporting that Ruddigore is Gilbert and Sullivan’s ‘most melodious and amusing work’, this performance didn’t grab the audience with its ghosts, witches and curses as it should. We needed more narrative to follow the plot.

The Gondoliers, however, lived up to the Choral Society’s high standard of presenting G&S. Ninety-six members – including ten dancing the hornpipe – moved through their selected pieces with enthusiasm and verve.

Choral members, orchestra, soloists and narrator united as one to give a resounding climax to over five years of presenting the Savoy Operas.

Part of the attraction of G&S is surely that our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents, all attended these operettas and our generation continues to enjoy them, as much for that British tradition of concert-going as celebrating a unique musical heritage that Britain gave the world.

Let’s not minimise the great effort needed to stage such a concert. As well as planning, editing, rehearsing, booking soloists, there is also the publicity, ticket sales, programme and costumes that need to be dove-tailed together. Full praise, therefore, to Oldham Choral Society, the National Festival Orchestra and, the man who makes it all work together, Nigel P. Wilkinson, for last night’s performance and for the dozen other Operettas over recent years.

Oldham Choral Society continues its musical programme with ‘An Italian Gala’ on Sunday 15th November at the newly-refurbished Royal National College of Music. Be there.