Henry Vogel and Emma Trentini from The Firefly 1912

''The Firefly'' was the first operetta written by composer

Rudolf Friml Charles Rudolf Friml"Mrs. Rudolf Friml to Receive Divorce"
...

, with a libretto by

Otto Harbach Otto Abels Harbach, born Otto Abels Hauerbach (August 18, 1873 – January 24, 1963) was an American lyricist and librettist of nearly 50 musical comedies and operettas. Harbach collaborated as lyricist or librettist with many of the leading B ...

. The story concerns a young Italian girl, who is a street singer in New York. She disguises herself and serves as a cabin boy on a ship to Bermuda, where she falls in love. Complications arise, and eventually, she becomes a grand opera diva. After tryouts at the Empire Theatre in Syracuse, New York beginning in October 1912, the operetta premiered on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

on December 2, 1912 at the Lyric Theatre, transferring after Christmas to the Casino Theatre. It was warmly received and ran for an encouraging 120 performances. The piece became one of the more frequently revived Friml works but was not given a complete recording until 2006. A 1937 MGM film version used most of the songs but had a new plot set in Spain during the time of

Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...

. It starred

Jeanette MacDonald Jeanette Anna MacDonald (June 18, 1903 – January 14, 1965) was an American singer and actress best remembered for her musical films of the 1930s with Maurice Chevalier (''The Love Parade'', '' Love Me Tonight'', ''The Merry Widow'' and '' On ...

and Allan Jones.

Roles

Background and productions

One of the most popular theatrical forms in the early decades of the 20th century in America was the operetta, and its most famous composer was

Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

-born

Victor Herbert Victor August Herbert (February 1, 1859 – May 26, 1924) was an American composer, cellist and conductor of English and Irish ancestry and German training. Although Herbert enjoyed important careers as a cello soloist and conductor, he is bes ...

. It was announced in 1912 that Italian-born operetta diva Emma Trentini would be starring on Broadway in a new operetta by Herbert with

lyricist A lyricist is a songwriter who writes lyrics (the spoken words), as opposed to a composer, who writes the song's music which may include but not limited to the melody, harmony, arrangement and accompaniment. Royalties A lyricist's incom ...

entitled ''The Firefly''. Shortly before the writing of the operetta, Trentini appeared in a special performance of Herbert's '' Naughty Marietta'' conducted by Herbert himself. When Trentini refused to sing "Italian Street Song" for the

encore An encore is an additional performance given by performers after the planned show has ended, usually in response to extended applause from the audience.Lalange Cochrane, in ''Oxford Companion to Music'', Alison Latham, ed., Oxford University Pre ...

, an enraged Herbert stormed out of the

orchestra pit An orchestra pit is the area in a theater (usually located in a lowered area in front of the stage) in which musicians perform. Orchestral pits are utilized in forms of theatre that require music (such as opera and ballet) or in cases when incide ...

refusing any further work with Trentini. Arthur Hammerstein, the operetta's sponsor, frantically began to search for another composer. Not finding anyone who could compose as well as Herbert, Hammerstein settled on the almost unknown Friml because of his classical training. After a month of work, Friml produced the score for what would be his first theatrical success. ''The Firefly'' was followed by 32 more Friml operettas, but it remained one of his most popular.Cummings, Robert. ''The Firefly'', All Music Guide After tryouts at the Empire Theatre in Syracuse, New York beginning on October 14, 1912, ''The Firefly'' opened at the Lyric Theatre on December 2, 1912 to a warm reception by both the audience and the critics. The production moved to the Casino Theatre on December 30, where it ran until March 15, 1913. All told the production ran for 120 performances. Directed by Frederick G. Latham and conducted by

Gaetano Merola Gaetano Merola (4 January 1881 – 30 August 1953) was an Italian conductor, pianist and founder of the San Francisco Opera. Biography Merola was born in Naples, the son of a Neapolitan court violinist and studied piano and conductor at the ...

, the operetta starred Trentini as Nina, Craig Campbell as Jack Travers, Irene Cassini as Antonio Columbo, Vera De Rosa as Sybil Vandare, Sammy Lee as Pietro, Audrey Maple as Geraldine Vandare, Ruby Norton as Suzette, Katherine Stewart as Mrs. Oglesby Vandare, Melville Stewart as John Thurston,

Henry Vogel Henry Vogel (June 15, 1863 – June 17, 1925) was an American actor and bass-baritone singer who originated several roles on the Broadway stage during the first two decades of the Twentieth Century. Early life Henry Vogel was born Heinrich Voge ...

as Herr Franz, and George Williams as Correlli. The 1937 MGM film version of the show, starring

, added the song "The Donkey Serenade". After the film's release, this song has usually been added to revivals. In 1943 at the

Los Angeles Civic Light Opera The Los Angeles Civic Light Opera (LACLO) was an American theatre/opera company in Los Angeles, California. Founded under the motto "Light Opera in the Grand Opera manner" in 1938 by impresario Edwin Lester, the organization presented fifty seaso ...

, Francia White starred as Nina.History of the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera
. broadwayla.org, accessed 11 July 2010 One of the more frequently revived Friml works, the first complete recording of the operetta was made by the

Ohio Light Opera The Ohio Light Opera is a professional opera company based in Wooster, Ohio that performs the light opera repertory, including Gilbert and Sullivan, American, British and continental operettas, and other musical theatre works, especially of the lat ...

and released by

Albany Records Albany Records is a record label that concentrates on unconventional contemporary classical music by American composers and musicians. It was established by Peter Kermani in 1987 and is based in Albany, New York. See also * List of record labe ...

in 2006.''The Firefly''
Albany Records, accessed 11 July 2010

Synopsis

;Act I At a

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pier in

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around 1909, snobby Geraldine Van Dare appears, quarreling with her fiancé, Jack Travers. Her uncle's yacht is preparing to sail for Bermuda. Geraldine accuses Jack of flirting with a little Italian street singer. They board, and the young woman in question, Nina Corelli, arrives and recognizes her old friend Suzette, Geraldine's maid. Nina did wink at Jack, but it wasn't serious ("Love Is Like a Firefly"). She wants to escape from her drunken guardian, and learning that Bermuda is farther away than Coney Island, she begs Suzette to take her along, but in vain. Nina runs home and puts on her brother's clothes. Back at the ship, she tells Suzette her new identity: Antonio Columbo, a known pickpocket ("Giannina Mia"). Musician Franz, boarding the yacht, decides that he needs this voice for his choir. He asks that this "boy" be allowed to accompany them. As the gangplank is raised, Nina runs aboard. ;Act II "Antonio" is popular in Bermuda at the Van Dares' estate, but the boy reminds sulky Geraldine of the street singer. Meanwhile, Nina has now really fallen in love with Jack, who has offered her a job as a valet. John Thurston, Jack's uncle, comforts Geraldine. The police are seeking a thief, Antonio Columbo, regarding a robbery on the island, and so Nina reveals her true identity. Franz adopts Nina, and the two leave together. ;Act III Three years later, Jack's romance with Geraldine has subsided. Just as Franz arrives at the Van Dare's home in New York, with Nina, Jack visits on a courtesy call. Under Franz's skillful teaching, Nina has now become the great prima donna "Giannina". Jack realises that he loves her, and Nina reveals that she has always loved him.

Musical numbers

;Act I *A Trip to Bermuda – Sybil Van Dare, Suzette, Pietro and Chorus *He Says Yes, She Says No! – Geraldine Van Dare, Jack Travers and Chorus *Call Me Uncle – John Thurston, Sybil and Chorus *Love Is Like a Firefly – Nina *Something – Suzette and Jenkins *Giannina (Mia) – Nina ;Act II *(In) Sapphire Seas – Sybil and Ensemble *Tommy Atkins (On a Dress-Parade) (I Want to be a Jolly Soldier) – Nina and Ensemble *Sympathy – Geraldine and John *A Woman's Smile – Jack *De Trop – Jenkins, Pietro, Suzette and Chorus *We're Going to Make a Man of You – Nina, Herr Franz, Jack, John and Jenkins *The Beautiful Ship from Toyland – Franz and Male Chorus *When a Maid Comes Knocking at Your Heart – Nina, Jack and Franz ;Act III *An American Beauty Rose – John and Ensemble *The Latest Thing from Paris – Pietro and Suzette *Kiss Me and 'Tis Day (The Dawn of Love) – Nina

References

External links

*
''The Firefly''
vocal score

at the Guide to Musical Theatre {{DEFAULTSORT:Firefly, The English-language operettas 1912 musicals 1912 operas Broadway musicals Operas Operas by Rudolf Friml Libretti by Otto Harbach