Marco Polo’s first two Sullivan discs offered ballet, concert and incidental music from the composer’s early days (6/93). Here we have incidental music from both ends of his theatrical career. Macbeth and King Arthur are relatively late works that depict the composer at his more morbid – more mature certainly, but also seemingly weighed down by the years. The overture to the former is an imposing piece of work, as three previous CD recordings affirm. However, the titles of several numbers of both works (“Chorus of Spirits in the Air”, “Chorus of Witches and Spirits”, “Chorus of Lake Spirits”, “Chorus of Unseen Spirits”) are enough to demonstrate that this is Sullivan in preponderantly fairy mode. At its best the results could serve for the fairies in Iolanthe or the lovesick maidens in Patience. There is also a Funeral March in King Arthur that is reminiscent of The Yeomen of the Guard. But how we miss the equivalent of a “Chorus of Dragoons” or “Peers” to provide contrast and bring the music to life! The early Merry Wives of Windsor music likewise contains a “Dance of Fairies”, but here the atmosphere is more youthfully light-hearted and sprightly, evoking the mood of HMS Pinafore or The Pirates of Penzance. As a whole, I think this disc is one for the committed lover of Sullivan without Gilbert. Others should sample the previous Marco Polo CDs of his incidental music first.'