Gilbert and Sullivan fans longing for a new recording of music by the operetta pioneers can thank San Francisco's Lamplighters Music Theatre, devoted to the works of Gilbert and Sullivan since 1952. Lamplighters recently released its premiere recording A Song to Sing, O!, celebrating the music of Gilbert and Sullivan, recorded at George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch.

The recording features 26 musicians, a chorus of more than 40 voices and four decades of Lamplighters principals-- company members past, present, and future. The album contains well-known as well as less frequently recorded songs from The Gondoliers, H.M.S. Pinafore, Iolanthe, The Mikado, Patience, The Pirates of Penzance, Princess Ida, Ruddygore, Yeomen of the Guard, -- plus Lamplighters' own Rosencrantz and Guildenstern's Excellent Adventure.

Lamplighters production of Princess Ida won the grand prize at the 1995 International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival in Buxton England, and the number "Today We Meet...Ida was a 12-month-old" is sung on the album by Lamplighters' award winning actor and conductor, Baker Peeples.

A Song to Sing, O! Lamplighters Celebrate Gilbert & Sullivan is currently available in CD and Cassette at the San Francisco Virgin MegaStore and in the East bay at Footlights theatrical Supply, 1322A Solano Avenue, Albany, and through Lamplighters, (415) 227-4797.

Lamplighters currently presents The Mikado, thru Mar. 23. For tickets or more information, please refer to the Lamplighters Music Theatre regional listing on Playbill On-Line. --By Blair Glaser