The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan cantata. He informs Sullivan that, if he would get around to finishing "The Golden Legend", Queen Victoria will attend the premiere. Likewise, when Gilbert calls on Sullivan, he sees him rehearsing "The Golden Legend", as Bennett stands watch. When Bennett dozes off, Sullivan turns back to "The Mikado". After both works debut, Sullivan is knighted. The Queen inquires if he will write a grand opera. Just before the premiere of their next opera, "Ruddigore", Sullivan asks Gilbert to write the libretto for his first grand opera. Gilbert declines, stating that in such a work the words play second fiddle to
Robert the Devil (Gilbert) later be a defining part of his work. These led to Gilbert's more mature "fairy comedies", such as "The Palace of Truth" (1870) and "Pygmalion and Galatea" (1871), which in turn led to the famous Gilbert and Sullivan operas. Although Gilbert gave up direct parodies of opera soon after "Robert", his parodic pokes at grand opera continued to be seen in the Savoy operas. The title character, a breeches role, was played as an insouciant "swell" by Nellie Farren, who became famous as the theatre's "principal boy". Gilbert later renounced "travesti" roles and revealing dresses on his actresses, and made