I've recently been listening to a series on Radio 4 about George Grossmith who sang the patter songs in the G & S operettas when they were first performed. I found it fascinating and would like to recommend it to anyone else who likes G & S like me. It was written by Simon Butteris who performed G G's parts. It was called 'I am the very Model of a Modern Major General' and was on in 5 15 minute parts.
My first experience of professional G & S was seeing Yeoman of the Guard at the De Montfort Hall in Leicester. I wasn't very old, perhaps 10ish and was only used to seeing amateur productions where the performers were 'getting on'. It was so wonderful to see people playing the parts appropriate for their age! I cried when Jack Point sings Songs of a Merry Man. Just magic.