Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan

Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan (1842-1900) was an English composer, born in London. He won the Mendelssohn scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music, and by means of it completed his musical education at Leipzig. In 1862 composed incidental music for "The Tempest," well received at the Crystal Palace. Since then had been a prolific writer of all kinds of music, ranging from hymns and oratorios to popular songs and comic operas. His oratorios include "The Prodigal Son" (1868), "The Light of the World," "The Golden Legend," &c., but it is as a writer of light and tuneful operas (librettos) by W. S. Gilbert that he is best known. These began with "Cox and Box" (1866), and include "Trial by Jury," "The Sorcerer" (1877), "Pinafore," "Patience" (1881), "Mikado" (1885), &c., in all of which he displayed great gifts as a melodist, and wonderful resource in clever piquant orchestration. He received the Legion of Honour in 1878, and was knighted in 1883.

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