Introduction to Princess Ida by Gilbert and Sullivan

In 1859, Charles Darwin published his famous "Origin of the Species", concluding that humans and apes evolved from the same ancestor. Thus, a line was drawn between science and religion. During that time, Victorian "scientists" were pondering the effects of women participating in activities normally permitted to men, such as education and politics. According to Stephen Gould, they "found" that it would lead to a decrease in reproduction. Ridiculous if anything else. So then comes the poet Alfred Lord Tennyson, who in 1847, wrote a poem entitled The Princess, about a young prince who seeks a feminist princess who runs an all female university. This work was adapted to a play by W.S. Gilbert in 1870. Having been successful with the play, Gilbert teamed up with long time collaborator Arthur Sullivan to adapt it to an operetta. Thus, Princess Ida was conceived.

Following the success of Iolanthe, Gilbert and Sullivan took on the themes of evolution and feminism in an operetta with a prologue and two acts. The story concerns two kings, Hildebrand and Gama, who joined their children, Hilarion and Ida respectively, in marriage before either of them was 3 years old. 20 years later, the prince and princess are to meet for the second time. However, Gama's daughter Ida has set up an all-women's university at the Castle Adamant. In anger, Hildebrand holds the other king and his 3 sons Arac, Guron, and Scynthius until the troops come back with the princess. Instead of storming the castle, Hilarion volunteers to go to the castle to take back Ida. Along with his friends Cyril and Florian, the three disguise themselves as women to enter the university.

Meanwhile, Princess Ida acts as Principal of the University while Ladys Blanche and Psyche teach. As Florian's sister, Lady Psyche promises not to reveal the identity of the men. When Melissa, a student, finds out, she is so enthralled by seeing men for the first time that she also pledges her secrecy. Later, the three run into Lady Blanche, and when she discovers the identity of the men, promises to also keep quiet. Secretly, she wants Hilarion's plan to work so she can take the reins of the school from Princess Ida. However, Cyril gets drunk and reveals the plan. But luckily the men are saved by Hildebrand, Gama, and the three brothers.

Later, the ladies of the university refuse to fight Hildebrand. In anger and sorrow, Ida takes up an offer from her father Gama to let her brothers fight against Hilarion and his friends. If the brothers win, Ida can continue the school. If Hilarion wins, Ida is to marry. The six men meet on the battlefield and Hilarion wins, even though he and his friends are still in drag. Ida resigns from the university, leaving Blanche as the new Principal. A trio of couples are now together: Ida and Hilario, Cyril and Psyche, and Melissa and Florian. They all promise to stay together unless the men are mean to their respective ladies, thus ending the operetta in joyous delight, as is every ending of a G&S tale.


The 1884 premiere met mostly rave reviews, citing Arthur Sullivan's grand score, the performers interpretations of the songs, as well as the sets and costumes. Other critics were mixed on W.S. Gilbert's  libretto. The Leicester Chronicle said it was too predictable and illogical as compared to previous works like The Pirates of Penzance and Iolanthe, where the plots were more elaborate and complicated. Never the less, audiences loved the work. Audiences found favor with the first two acts, but were less enthralled with the final act, except for the "stripping song" sung by Gama's sons, and the finale reprise of "Expressive glances". But the opening would not have happened had it not been for Sullivan's persistent eagerness to conduct despite sickness.

The operetta finds its hilarity in the satire of women's rights and evolution. "The Ape and the Lady", sung by Lady Psyche, is the most visible satire of the work. It tells of a lady who is hit on by an ape. When he fails, he shaves, takes a bath, buys fancy clothes and calls himself a man. The lady refuses after each attempt to improve, citing that he is a monkey at heart. The song itself was only written for the opera and had not been suggested in the original poem or play. The rest of the second act and the third act do all the poking at women. Their logic in their teachings and rules, their unwillingness to fight men, and the only victory that comes to them is that the ladies agree to marry until the husbands are rude to them. Its sexist in today's terms and may be one of the reasons why it is the least successful and least performed today of the Gilbert and Sullivan canon.

Today, it is still performed, but with less frequency than the works that came before or after. But many people are still trying to decipher what can make it popular to an audience today. The philosophical and scientific ideas are both prevalent in modern culture, but it isn't as re-adaptable as The Mikado was for Jonathan Miller or The Pirates of Penzance was for it's first broadway run in the United States. Many colleges and professional/semiprofessional companies continue with traditional style productions and maybe a few changes to the script and additional jokes, as is necessary for an enjoyable performance.

Which now leads me to plug the upcoming performance at Hofstra University in February. The director is Isabel Milenski, who has also done Handel's Alcina, Die Fledermaus, Don Giovanni, and Monteverdi's The Coronation of Poppea for Hofstra in the past few years. The musical director is David Ramael, who will conduct the work before going on sabbatical for the Spring 2013 semester. Dates for the performances are set for February 1-3.

This has been an introduction to my coverage of Princess Ida for Music with Maestro Weinstein. Be sure to check out this blog, YouNow, Youtube, and Facebook for more as rehearsals start.

*All information courtesy of The Gilbert and Sullivan Archive at Boise State University.