Sir Arthur Sullivan (1842-1900) is best known as the musical half of the partnership of Gilbert and Sullivan, but also wrote numerous serious concert works on his own that were exceptionally popular in their time, including grand operas, oratorios, orchestral works, and vocal works. Descended from a musical family, he was acclaimed from an early age but found that his musical compositions did not pay well until his meeting with W.S. Gilbert in 1871 and the start of their partnership four years later under the auspices of theatrical producer Richard D'Oyly Carte. Sullivan chafed against the popular entertainments that funded his lavish lifestyle but distracted him from his serious efforts, and he died believing that he had prostituted his art. This opinion has not been widely shared by modern critics or audiences, who have found the Savoy operas excellent vehicles for Sullivan’s skills at parodying musical styles.

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