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Music Text

Libretto by Sheldon Harnick after the play by Clyde Fitch (E)

Scoring

lyrcolS,dramS,S,M(plays piano),3T,lyrBar(plays violin),BBar,7B;
chorus
2(I=picc,II=picc,afl).2(II=corA).2(II=bcl,Ebcl).2-2.2crt.0.euph.1-
timp.perc(1):BD/cym/SD/4tom-t/tamb/glsp/2tgl/2susp.cym(sm,lg)/
xyl-harp-pft(=cel)-strings

Abbreviations (PDF)

Publisher

Boosey & Hawkes

Territory
This work is available from Boosey & Hawkes for the world.

Availability

World Premiere
20/09/1975
Kansas City Lyric Theater, Kansas City , Missouri
Jack Eddleman, director and choreographer
Conductor: Russell Patterson
Company: Kansas City Lyric Opera Company

Roles

COLONEL MAPLESON Basso Cantante
Reporter from THE TIMES Irish Tenor
Reporter from THE TRIBUNE Tenor
Reporter from THE SUN Baritone
Reporter from THE HERALD Baritone
Reporter from THE CLIPPER Bass
WILLEM VAN BLEECKER Bass Baritone
CHARLES LaMARTINE Baritone
JONATHAN JINKS Tenor
MRS. GREENBOROUGH (Mrs. Gee) Contralto (and pianist, if possible)
AURELIA TRENTONI Lyric coloratura Soprano
"PAPA" BELLIARTI Lyric Baritone (and violinist if possible)
MARY ("Annina") Soprano
MRS. STONINGTON Dramatic Soprano
MISS MERRIAM (deaf mute)
POLICEMAN Buffo Bass
CUSTOMS OFFICIAL Buffo Bass
MRS. JINKS (Jonathan's Mother) Mezzo Soprano
Stage Doorman (role doubled by Customs Official) Buffo Bass
Stagehand/Scene-Painter (role Doubled by Policeman) Buffo Bass
Bandmaster, Bandsmen (from the orchestra)
3 or 4 Dancing Couples
Stagehands, sailors, stevedores
3 dogs
Time and Place

Early 1900s, USA

Synopsis

Jonathan Jinks and his friends Willie and Charlie go to welcome opera star Aurelia Trentoni. Charlie (jealous of Jinks's success with women) provokes him into betting he can seduce Aurelia. Jinks and Aurelia are immediately attracted to one another. Ashamed of the bet, Jinks tries to cancel it. Unsuccessful, he gives Charlie an IOU. In a gallant attempt to speed Aurelia's luggage through Customs, Jinks offers money to an amenable inspector. Surprised, he is arrested for bribing a U.S. official. Jinks, out on bail, becomes secretly engaged to Aurelia. “Papa” Belliarti—Aurelia's uncle and teacher—enters with Charlie. Charlie, presenting the IOU, claims Jinks is a fortune hunter who has wagered he would marry Aurelia. Belliarti forbids Jinks to see Aurelia again.  Aurelia returns from her triumphant debut in La traviata too distressed to attend the party given in her honor. Jinks appears, explains what has happened, and begs forgiveness. A policeman arrives looking for Jinks, who has missed his trial. Aurelia, playing the dying Violetta for the second time that evening, explains that Jinks was helping her to survive a recurrence of an old lung complaint. All the principals enter, bringing the party to Aurelia, and all ends well.


 

Moods

Comic, Dramatic, Romantic

Subjects

Links

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