Located in the UK
Located in the USA
Located in Europe
- Kirke Mechem
The Rivals, Op. 67 (2002)
- G Schirmer Inc (World)
- 2121/2110/perc/hp/str
- optional chorus
- 2S, 2Mz, 2T, Bar, B-bar, B
- 1 hr 55 min
Programme Note
First performance:
September 16 2011
Skylight Opera Theatre
Richard Carsey, conductor
Milwaukee, WI
Selections for sale:
50483630 - Lydia's Romance, soprano and mezzo-soprano duet - Vocal Score
50483629 - Lydia's Romance, SA chorus - Octavo
50485595 - Lydia's Romance, SATB chorus - Octavo
(formerly "The Newport Rivals")
Comic Opera in Two Acts
Freely based on Sheridan's play, "The Rivals"
Setting:
The action takes place during one day in Newport, Rhode Island, about 1900.
Synopsis:
Rich and dashing British Naval Captain Jack Absolute has fallen in love with American heiress Lydia Larkspur. But Lydia is in love with a romantic fantasy: she wants to elope with some penniless artist and live in "charming poverty." Jack masquerades as a poor English composer named Waverley and wins her heart; Lydia's aunt and guardian, the famously verbose Mrs. Malaprop, will not hear of it. She and Jack's father, both unaware that "Waverley" is Jack, decide that Lydia should marry the real Jack. Jack — now his own rival — has a big problem: how to reveal his true identity to Lydia without losing her. He ties himself into knots to indulge her rebellious fantasies, but eventually Lydia learns the truth and rejects him.
Jack's friend Nicholas Astor loves Lydia's cousin Julia, but his gloomy fear of being loved only for his vast fortune drives him to put her love to such ridiculous tests that she finally breaks off their engagement.
Baron von Hakenbock, a bellicose Prussian fortune hunter, has been carrying on a secret correspondence with "Celia," whom he believes to be Lydia but who is really Mrs. Malaprop. He and one of Lydia's rejected suitors, Jasper Vanderbilt, prepare to fight simultaneous duels: Jasper with his rival, the non-existent Waverley, and the Baron with Jack. Jasper is the bumpkin son of the Kentucky branch of the wealthy Vanderbilts; he also does not know that "Waverley" is his friend Jack. It all comes to a head on the dueling field. True love averts the duels, clears up the misunderstandings, and unites the proper pairs.
Cast List:
LYDIA LARKSPUR: Soprano
MRS. MALAPROP, her aunt and legal guardian: Mezzo-soprano
JACK ABSOLUTE, in love with Lydia: Baritone
NICHOLAS ASTOR, Jack's friend: Tenor
JULIA, Lydia's cousin, engaged to Nicholas: Mezzo-soprano
SIR ANTHONY ABSOLUTE, Jack's father: Bass
LUCY, Mrs. Malaprop's maid: Soprano
JASPER VANDERBILT, Lydia's suitor: Tenor
BARON VON HAKENBOCK, a Prussian fortune hunter: Bass-baritone
Optional Chorus: Servants, Townspeople
September 16 2011
Skylight Opera Theatre
Richard Carsey, conductor
Milwaukee, WI
Selections for sale:
50483630 - Lydia's Romance, soprano and mezzo-soprano duet - Vocal Score
50483629 - Lydia's Romance, SA chorus - Octavo
50485595 - Lydia's Romance, SATB chorus - Octavo
(formerly "The Newport Rivals")
Comic Opera in Two Acts
Freely based on Sheridan's play, "The Rivals"
Setting:
The action takes place during one day in Newport, Rhode Island, about 1900.
Synopsis:
Rich and dashing British Naval Captain Jack Absolute has fallen in love with American heiress Lydia Larkspur. But Lydia is in love with a romantic fantasy: she wants to elope with some penniless artist and live in "charming poverty." Jack masquerades as a poor English composer named Waverley and wins her heart; Lydia's aunt and guardian, the famously verbose Mrs. Malaprop, will not hear of it. She and Jack's father, both unaware that "Waverley" is Jack, decide that Lydia should marry the real Jack. Jack — now his own rival — has a big problem: how to reveal his true identity to Lydia without losing her. He ties himself into knots to indulge her rebellious fantasies, but eventually Lydia learns the truth and rejects him.
Jack's friend Nicholas Astor loves Lydia's cousin Julia, but his gloomy fear of being loved only for his vast fortune drives him to put her love to such ridiculous tests that she finally breaks off their engagement.
Baron von Hakenbock, a bellicose Prussian fortune hunter, has been carrying on a secret correspondence with "Celia," whom he believes to be Lydia but who is really Mrs. Malaprop. He and one of Lydia's rejected suitors, Jasper Vanderbilt, prepare to fight simultaneous duels: Jasper with his rival, the non-existent Waverley, and the Baron with Jack. Jasper is the bumpkin son of the Kentucky branch of the wealthy Vanderbilts; he also does not know that "Waverley" is his friend Jack. It all comes to a head on the dueling field. True love averts the duels, clears up the misunderstandings, and unites the proper pairs.
Cast List:
LYDIA LARKSPUR: Soprano
MRS. MALAPROP, her aunt and legal guardian: Mezzo-soprano
JACK ABSOLUTE, in love with Lydia: Baritone
NICHOLAS ASTOR, Jack's friend: Tenor
JULIA, Lydia's cousin, engaged to Nicholas: Mezzo-soprano
SIR ANTHONY ABSOLUTE, Jack's father: Bass
LUCY, Mrs. Malaprop's maid: Soprano
JASPER VANDERBILT, Lydia's suitor: Tenor
BARON VON HAKENBOCK, a Prussian fortune hunter: Bass-baritone
Optional Chorus: Servants, Townspeople