In Act Two of Gilbert & Sullivan’s THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE the pirates plan to storm Major-General Stanley’s house in the middle of the night, unaware that a crowd of policemen, relentlessly imitating trumpets to embolden themselves, are waiting to ambush and arrest them. After failing to be as quiet as they claim, the pirates sing one of Sullivan’s most beloved tunes—actually, Sullivan’s copyright piracy of Verdi’s “Anvil Chorus” from IL TROVATORE. The chorus and orchestra of Seattle Opera were conducted by David Charles Abell. Photo by Sunny Martini.
PIRATES: With cat-like tread,
Upon our prey we steal;
In silence dread,
Our cautious way we feel.
No sound at all,
We never speak a word,
A fly’s foot-fall
Would be distinctly heard.
POLICE: (Tarantara, tarantara!)
PIRATES: Come, friends, who plough the sea,
Truce to navigation;
Take another station;
Let’s vary piracee
With a little burglaree!
