W. S. Gilbert'Äôs operatic masterpiece, "The Gondoliers, or the King of Barataria," is a brilliant satire of social class and governance, enriched with his characteristic wit and whimsical charm. Set in a fictional Venetian landscape, the narrative unfolds through the comedic entanglements of two gondoliers who are unwittingly revealed to be heirs to the throne of Barataria. The work is marked by ...