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The Fortune Teller (operetta)

 

 
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The Fortune Teller (operetta)
 
 
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The Fortune Teller is an operetta
Operetta

Operetta is a genre of light opera, light in terms both of music and subject matter. It is also closely related, in English-language works, to forms of musical theatre....
 in three acts written by Victor Herbert
Victor Herbert

Victor August Herbert was an Ireland-born, German-raised United States composer, cellist and conducting who is best known for his many successful operettas that premiered on Broadway theatre....
, with a libretto
Libretto

A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, sacred or secular oratorio and cantata, Musical theater, and ballet....
 by Harry B. Smith
Harry B. Smith

File:Victor Herbert - Alice Nielsen - The Fortune Hunter.pngHarry B. Smith was a prolific writer, lyricist and composer. Some of his best-known works were librettos for the composer Victor Herbert....
. After a brief tryout in Toronto, it premiered on Broadway
Broadway theatre

Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located in the Theatre District, New York in Manhattan, New York City....
 on September 26 1898 at Wallack's Theatre
Wallack's Theatre

Wallack?s Theatre, located on 254 West 42nd Street in New York, United States, was opened on December 5th, 1904 by Oscar Hammerstein I. Wallack?s was Hammerstein?s 8th production theatre and was originally known as the "Lew Fields'", a name that Hammerstein gave it in recognition of his favourite comedian who often performed at his shows...
 and ran for 40 performances. It was revived on November 4 1929 at Jolson's 59th Street Theatre and ran for 16 performances.

Herbert wrote his sixth operetta for prima donna Alice Nielsen
Alice Nielsen

Alice Nielsen was a Broadway theatre performer and operatic soprano who had her own opera company and starred in several Victor Herbert operettas....
 and her newly formed Alice Nielsen Opera Company.






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The Fortune Teller is an operetta
Operetta

Operetta is a genre of light opera, light in terms both of music and subject matter. It is also closely related, in English-language works, to forms of musical theatre....
 in three acts written by Victor Herbert
Victor Herbert

Victor August Herbert was an Ireland-born, German-raised United States composer, cellist and conducting who is best known for his many successful operettas that premiered on Broadway theatre....
, with a libretto
Libretto

A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, sacred or secular oratorio and cantata, Musical theater, and ballet....
 by Harry B. Smith
Harry B. Smith

File:Victor Herbert - Alice Nielsen - The Fortune Hunter.pngHarry B. Smith was a prolific writer, lyricist and composer. Some of his best-known works were librettos for the composer Victor Herbert....
. After a brief tryout in Toronto, it premiered on Broadway
Broadway theatre

Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located in the Theatre District, New York in Manhattan, New York City....
 on September 26 1898 at Wallack's Theatre
Wallack's Theatre

Wallack?s Theatre, located on 254 West 42nd Street in New York, United States, was opened on December 5th, 1904 by Oscar Hammerstein I. Wallack?s was Hammerstein?s 8th production theatre and was originally known as the "Lew Fields'", a name that Hammerstein gave it in recognition of his favourite comedian who often performed at his shows...
 and ran for 40 performances. It was revived on November 4 1929 at Jolson's 59th Street Theatre and ran for 16 performances.

Herbert wrote his sixth operetta for prima donna Alice Nielsen
Alice Nielsen

Alice Nielsen was a Broadway theatre performer and operatic soprano who had her own opera company and starred in several Victor Herbert operettas....
 and her newly formed Alice Nielsen Opera Company. Nielsen having earned widespread praise in The Serenade
The Serenade

The Serenade is an operetta with music and lyrics by Victor Herbert, and book by Harry B. Smith. Produced by a troupe called "The Bostonians", it premiered on Broadway theatre on March 16 1897 at the Knickerbocker Theatre and ran initially for 79 performances....
, requested and received not one but three roles in The Fortune Teller. The story is set in Hungary and involves Irma, an heiress from Budapest, who is studying for the ballet. Irma is in love with a young Hussar captain but is being forced to marry the silly Count Barezowski. When a gypsy fortune teller, Musette, arrives, she is mistaken for Irma, a case of mistaken identity that fosters many complications.

Songs include the famous "Gypsy Love Song," ('Slumber on, my little gypsy sweetheart') and "Romany Life."

Roles and original cast

  • Musette, a fortune teller* - Alice Nielsen
  • Captain Ladislas, a Hussar - Frank Rushworth
  • Fresco, a dance master (trouser role) - Richard Golden
  • Count Berezowski, a composer of no renown - Joseph W. Herbert
  • Irma, a ballet student* - Alice Nielsen
  • Mlle Pompon, a fading prima donna - Marguerite Sylva
    Marguerite Sylva

    Marguerite Sylva was a Belgium born mezzo-soprano who achieved fame not only on the opera stage but also in operetta and musical theatre. She was particularly known for her performances in the title role of Bizet's Carmen, which she sang over 300 times in the course of her career....
  • Fedor, Irma's twin brother* - Alice Nielsen
  • Sandor, a gypsy leader - Eugene Cowles
  • Irene, Trina and Ruth, ballet students
  • Corporal, a Hussar
  • Chorus


The roles marked with an asterisk (*) are all played by the same woman.

Musical numbers

Act 1
  • Always Do as People Say You Should Musette and Ladies Chorus
  • Hungaria's Hussars Captain Ladislas and Hussars
  • Ho! Ye Townsmen Sandor
  • Romany Life Musette, Sandor, Vaninka, Boris, Rafael and Chorus
  • Czardas
Act 2
  • Signor Monsieur Moldoni Fresco and Chorus
  • The Serenade of All Nations Musette, Count Berezowski, Fresco, Boris and Mixed Chorus
  • Gypsy Love Song (Slumber On, My Little Gypsy Sweetheart) Sandor, Musette and Chorus
  • Only in the Play Mlle. Pompom and Captain Ladislas
Act 3
  • Gypsy Jan Sandor and Chorus
  • The Power of the Human Eye Boris and Count Berezowski
  • The Lily and the Nightingale Musette


External links

  • at the Internet Broadway Database
    Internet Broadway Database

    The Internet Broadway Database is an online database of Broadway theatre productions and their personnel. It is operated by the Research Department of The Broadway League, a trade association for the North American commercial theatre community....