"Go away, Madam" tracks the harmony and melodic shape of a Beethoven piano sonata (naturally, I forget which one) for several measures.
Then Dan responded:
I believe that is the finale of Sonata No. 17 "Tempest." But that's not all--the same passage from IOLANTHE has a similarity to "Danse Macabre" by Saint-Saens. The more I listen to Sullivan, the more I hear other composers' popular works, and I can't help thinking that there would be much more to recognize if certain works that were popular in Sullivan's day hadn't lost their popularity. Is this conscious or unconscious on Sullivan's part? Is he parodying other composers' works or just saying "hello?" Anyway, here are a few of my favorite "reminders" of melodies and themes (not even going into "reminders" of styles and moods):
PATIENCE: "Gold lace has a charm for the fair"--Children's chorus in Bizet's CARMEN.
PATIENCE: Intro to "Let the merry cymbals sound"--Minuet from Bizet's L'ARLESIENNE suite
IOLANTHE: Statement of "O amorous dove" in Overture--First movement of Mendelssohn't Italian Symphony
PINAFORE: "Kind Captain"--Second movement of Mendelssohn's Italian Symphony
IDA: "O dainty triolet"--Third movement of Mendelssohn's Italian Symphony
YEOMEN: Statement of "The screw may twist" in Overture--Prelude to Act III of Wagner's LOHENGRIN
SORCERER: First tentative statement of "Kind friends have pity" in Overture--Bridge passage in waltz from Gounod's FAUST.
GRAND DUKE: March theme under "Why who is this approaching"--Intro to Soldier's Chorus from Gounod's FAUST
YEOMEN: "To thy fond care I do commend thy sister"--Elder Germont's recitative plea to Violetta in Act II of Verdi's LA TRAVIATA.