Sounds on CD VGS215 Cover art by Matt Bland

In 1917, HMV recorded a new Mikado, its first G&S set in a decade. Rupert D'Oyly Carte contracted to provide some limited artistic advice, but all the singers were taken from HMV's own stable. The Mikado recording was evidently successful enough that HMV signed up with D'Oyly Carte for four more operas to be recorded under a similar arrangement, of which this Gondoliers was the first.

This would be the last time HMV recorded an opera without any D'Oyly Carte singers, as the policy of using exclusively their own artists came to be seen as increasingly outdated. At about the time this recording came out, the D'Oyly Carte Company launched a highly-publicized return to London after many years' absence. The fact that the recording and stage casts were different compelled HMV to justify their actions with the following mumbo-jumbo:

The records of the opera now issued by "His Master's Voice" are unique and of supreme historic interest, since they have been recorded under the direct supervision of Mr. Rupert D'Oyly Carte, with the assistance of his company, and some of the finest English singers of the day. Thus the real tradition of the Gilbert and Sullivan days, as established by the author and composer, with Mr. D'Oyly Carte of the original Savoy productions, has been perpetuated in these records, which thus have special authority, while as artistic productions they are equally remarkable.

Earlier HMV Album Cover. (See discussion above.)

As is typically the case for recordings of the time, the casting here is anything but consistent. Where more than one singer covers a role, the allotment is as follows:

Don Alhambra:	Robert Radford, except for the Act I finale (George Baker).
Marco:	John Harrison, except for the finales (Ernest Pike). Derek Oldham sings the role only on matrix HO4550 (side 12), recorded much later than the other sides and included in some copies of the set. Tudor Davies sings "sparkling eyes" only on matrix Cc2690-3 (side 15), issued with later copies of the set.
Casilda:	Violet Essex, except for the Act II finale (Sarah Jones).
Vittoria:	Nellie Walker, except for "Here we are at the risk of our lives" (Edna Thornton).

The recording details below show that a number of sides were issued with different takes. It was a common practice at the time, but there are more alternate takes for this set than for any of the other HMV sets. Michael Walters points out that, of the two published takes for side 19, Edna Thornton sings slightly different words for the Duchess's song each time, and neither is correct!