| The Desert Song | |
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| Original Sheet Music (cropped) | |
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| Music | Sigmund Romberg |
| Lyrics | Otto Harbach |
| Book | Oscar Hammerstein II |
| Productions | 1926 Broadway 1929 Film 1943 Film 1953 Film 1955 Live U. Sigmund Romberg, born Zsigmond Romberg ( July 29, 1887, Nagykanizsa − November 9, 1951 Otto Abels Harbach, born Otto Abels Hauerbach ( August 18, 1873 - January 24, 1963) was an American lyricist and librettist Oscar Hammerstein II (ˈhæmɚstaɪn (born Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein) ( July 12, 1895 – August 23, 1960) was Year 1926 ( MCMXXVI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Broadway theater, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located Year 1929 ( MCMXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Desert Song is a 1929 musical operetta film photographed partly in Technicolor. Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1953 ( MCMLIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1955 ( MCMLV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar) S. Television 1987 New York City Opera |
The Desert Song is an operetta with music by Sigmund Romberg and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and Otto Harbach, inspired by the 1925 uprising of the Riffs, a group of Moroccan fighters, against French colonial rule. Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) New York State Theater by David Shankbonejpg|thumb| New York State Theater]] The New York City Opera (NYCO is based in Philip Johnson 's New York State Operetta is a genre of light Opera, light in terms both of music and subject matter Music is an Art form in which the medium is Sound organized in Time. Sigmund Romberg, born Zsigmond Romberg ( July 29, 1887, Nagykanizsa − November 9, 1951 A Book is a set or collection of written printed illustrated or blank sheets made of Paper, Parchment, or other material usually fastened together Lyrics (in singular form Lyric) are a set of words that accompany music either by speaking or singing Oscar Hammerstein II (ˈhæmɚstaɪn (born Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein) ( July 12, 1895 – August 23, 1960) was Otto Abels Harbach, born Otto Abels Hauerbach ( August 18, 1873 - January 24, 1963) was an American lyricist and librettist For the Eleventh Century Talmudist see Isaac Alfasi The Rif ( Berber: Arabic:جبال الريف is a mainly mountainous Morocco (المغرب "al-Maghrib" officially the Kingdom of Morocco (المملكة المغربية is a country located in North Africa [1] It was also inspired by stories of Lawrence of Arabia aiding native guerillas. Many tales romanticizing Arab North Africa were in vogue, including Beau Geste and The Son of the Sheik. Beau Geste is a 1924 Adventure novel by P C Wren, which has been adapted for the screen several times [2]
Originally titled "Lady Fair" (see illustration), after successful out-of-town tryouts in Wilmington, Delaware and Boston, Massachusetts,[2] the original Broadway production opened at the Casino Theatre on November 30, 1926 and ran for a very successful 465 performances. Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Broadway theater, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located The Casino Theatre was a New York City Broadway theatre from 1882 to 1930 in the United States of America. Events 1700 - Battle of Narva — A Swedish army of 8500 men under Charles XII defeats Year 1926 ( MCMXXVI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. [3] It was directed by Arthur Hurley and choreographed by Bobby Connolly. It starred Robert Halliday and Vivienne Segal. Vivienne Sonia Segal ( April 19, 1897 - December 29, 1992) was an American actress and singer [2] The piece was revived in the late 1940s at New York City Center. New York City Center, historically known as City Center of Music and Drama, and also known as New York City Center 55th Street Theater, is a 2750-seat Moorish Only rarely professionally revived, the piece enjoyed a renaissance in the 1980s when it was played regularly by the Light Opera of Manhattan and revived by the New York City Opera. Light Opera of Manhattan was an Off-Broadway Repertory theatre company that produced Light operas including the works of Gilbert and Sullivan New York State Theater by David Shankbonejpg|thumb| New York State Theater]] The New York City Opera (NYCO is based in Philip Johnson 's New York State [4] It is a popular piece for community light opera groups.
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Productions
The leading man in the original Broadway production was Scottish baritone Richard Halliday and the heroine Vivienne Segal. Vivienne Sonia Segal ( April 19, 1897 - December 29, 1992) was an American actress and singer To celebrate the centennial of Romberg’s birth (1987), the New York City Opera staged a lavish production with Richard White and Linda Michele. New York State Theater by David Shankbonejpg|thumb| New York State Theater]] The New York City Opera (NYCO is based in Philip Johnson 's New York State Although very old-fashioned by present standards, and wildly improbable in its storyline, The Desert Song is still occasionally performed and has been made into a motion picture four times, though the second version was a short subject, rather than a feature-length film. All film versions were made by Warner Brothers. Warner Bros Entertainment Inc (or Warner Bros, Warner Bros Pictures) is one of the world's largest producers of Film and
In 1929, a lavish production was filmed, with Technicolor sequences and starring John Boles and Myrna Loy. The Desert Song is a 1929 musical operetta film photographed partly in Technicolor. Technicolor is the trademark for a series of color film processes pioneered by Technicolor Motion Picture Corporation John Boles may refer to John Boles Jr, American baseball John Boles (actor, an American actor John Boles (sport shooter Myrna Loy ( August 2, 1905 – December 14, 1993) was an American Motion picture Actress. This version captured the spirit of the original Broadway production and became a huge hit. To capitalize on the success of the original picture, Warner Bros. released a two-reel adaptation of the film in 1932 entitled The Red Shadow. Year 1932 ( MCMXXXII) was a Leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. By the 1940s, the original 1929 film had become illegal to view or exhibit in the United States due to its Pre-Code content which included sexual innuendo, lewd suggestive humor and open discussion of themes such as homosexuality. Pre-Code films were created before the Motion Picture Production Code or Hays Code - censorship guidelines - took effect on 1 July 1934 in the United Apparently, the Technicolor sequences have survived only in black-and-white.
A second feature version was made in 1943, which was topically altered to have the hero fighting the Nazis. Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Filmed (entirely) in three-strip Technicolor, it starred Dennis Morgan and Irene Manning. For other people of the same name see Dennis Morgan (disambiguation. For the One Life to Live character see Irene Manning Clayton Irene Manning ( July 17, 1912 – May 28, 2004
A third cleaned-up color feature version was made in 1953, with most of the adult themes and humor being removed or sanitized. Year 1953 ( MCMLIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. This version altered the plot to make General Birabeau the father of Margot, rather than the father of the Red Shadow, as in the play. It starred Kathryn Grayson and Gordon MacRae. WikipediaWikiProject_Opera#Infoboxes --> Kathryn Grayson (born February 9, 1922) is an American actress Albert Gordon MacRae ( March 12, 1921 – January 24, 1986) was an American Actor and Singer, best known for Both the 1943 and the 1953 films changed the hero's name from the Red Shadow to El Khobar. In the 1953 version, El Khobar's disguise was that of a mild-mannered Latin teacher who tutored Margot and had to fend off her amorous advances (which were fairly discreet by modern standards).
Another clean version was adapted for live television in 1955 (with Gale Sherwood and Nelson Eddy, and Salvatore Baccaloni imported from the Metropolitan Opera to play Ali Ben Ali). "Live TV" redirects here For the British TV station formerly known by this name see L!VE TV. Year 1955 ( MCMLV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar) Nelson Ackerman Eddy ( June 29, 1901 - March 6, 1967) was an American singer who appeared in 19 Musical films Salvatore Baccaloni ( April 14, 1900 - December 31, 1969) was an Italian bass, often regarded as the greatest Buffo artist The Metropolitan Opera Association of New York City, founded in April 1880 is a major presenter of all types of opera including Grand Opera. One of the writers brought in to modernize some unplayable dialogue was the young Neil Simon. Marvin Neil Simon (born July 4, 1927 in The Bronx, New York City) is an American Playwright and Screenwriter [5]
The plot is an early version of "superhero in mild-mannered disguise loves girl-who-loves-the-superhero" plots such as Superman (compare the earlier tales of the Scarlet Pimpernel and Zorro). Superman is a fictional Comic book Superhero widely considered to be one of the most recognized of such characters and an American Cultural icon The Scarlet Pimpernel is a classic play and Adventure novel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy, set during the Reign of Terror following the Zorro (originally called Señor Zorro) is a Fictional character created in 1919 by pulp writer Johnston McCulley.
Roles
- Sid El Kar (tenor)
- Hassi (baritone)
- Mindar
- Benjamin Kidd (comic baritone)
- Captain Paul Fontaine (baritone or tenor)
- Azuri (mezzo-soprano)
- Margot Bonvalet (soprano)
- General Birabeau (baritone)
- Pierre Birabeau/Red Shadow (lyric baritone)
- Susan (soprano or mezzo-soprano)
- Ali Ben Ali (bass)
- Clementina
- Hadji
- Chorus of Riffs, soldiers and inhabitants of the fortress
Synopsis
French General Birabeau has been sent to Morocco to root out and destroy the Riffs, a band of Arab rebels, who threaten the safety of the French outpost in the Moroccan desert. The tenor is the highest male voice within the Modal register, just above the Baritone voice This article is related to a series of articles under the main article Voice type. This article is related to a series of articles under the main article Voice type. This article is related to a series of articles under the main article Voice type. This article is related to a series of articles under the main article Voice type. This article is related to a series of articles under the main article Voice type. Their dashing, daredevil leader is the mysterious "Red Shadow", a Frenchman. Margot Bonvalet, a lovely, sassy French girl, is soon to be married at the fort to Birabeau's right-hand man, Captain Fontaine. Birabeau's son Pierre, in reality the Red Shadow, loves Margot, but pretends to be a milksop to preserve his secret identity. Margot tells Pierre that she secretly yearns to be swept into the arms of some bold, dashing sheik, perhaps even the Red Shadow himself. Pierre, as the Red Shadow, kidnaps Margot and declares his love for her.
To her surprise, Margot's mysterious abductor treats her with every western consideration. When the Red Shadow comes face to face with General Birabeau, the old man challenges the rebel leader to a duel. Of course Pierre will not kill his own father, so he refuses to fight, losing the respect of the Riff. Azuri, the sinuous and secretive native dancing girl, might be persuaded to answer some of these riddles if only she can be persuaded by Captain Fontaine. Meanwhile Benny, a reporter, and Susan provide comic relief. Eventually, the Red Shadow's identity is discovered, a deal is struck with the Riff, and Pierre and Margot live happily ever after.
Musical numbers
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Also from the show were "Dreaming In Paradise," "Love's Dear Yearning," and "Let's Have a Love Affair. " Two songs from The Desert Song are among the operetta and Broadway musical songs lampooned in the 1959 musical Little Mary Sunshine. Little Mary Sunshine is a musical that parodies old-fashioned Operettas and musicals "The Riff Song" and "The Desert Song" are the respective targets of "The Forest Rangers" (it also parodies several other "gallant warriors" songs, such as "Stout-Hearted Men") "The Desert Song," a hero-sings-to-heroine waltz, is parodied by "You're the Fairest Flower," another hero-sings-to-heroine waltz.
References
External links
- Guide to operetta:The Desert Song
- "The Desert Song" lyrics
- Plot synopsis and list of roles
- The Desert Song at the Internet Broadway Database
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