Gilbert and Sullivan well, and on 13 May 1883, at a party to celebrate the composer's 41st birthday, the guests, including the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII), heard a direct relay of parts of "Iolanthe" from the Savoy. This was probably the first live "broadcast" of an opera. During the run of "Iolanthe", in 1883, Sullivan was knighted by Queen Victoria. Although it was the operas with Gilbert that had earned him the broadest fame, the honour was conferred for his services to serious music. The musical establishment, and many critics, believed that this should put an end to his career as
W. S. Gilbert bibliography full-length two-act works, except for "Trial by Jury", which is in one act, and "Princess Ida", which is three acts. All except for "Trial by Jury" contain spoken dialogue; the dialogue in "Princess Ida" is written in blank verse. Though not as popular as the works with Arthur Sullivan, a few of Gilbert's later comic operas arguably have stronger plots than the last two Gilbert and Sullivan operas. Gilbert is known to have written lyrics for twelve parlour ballads. These are: W. S. Gilbert bibliography This is a selected list of W. S. Gilbert's works, including all that have their