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                                  THE
                         STANDARD LIGHT OPERAS
                      THEIR PLOTS AND THEIR MUSIC


                              _A Handbook_

                           By GEORGE P. UPTON
                 AUTHOR OF "THE STANDARD OPERAS," ETC.

                                CHICAGO
                          A. C. McCLURG & CO.
                                  1902


                               Copyright
                          A. C. McClurg & Co.
                                  1902

                      Published September 13, 1902


                              TO MY FRIEND
                           CHARLES C. CURTISS




                                PREFACE.


The present volume, "The Standard Light Operas," has been prepared not
only with the hope that it may supply a popular want in these days when
the light opera is so much in vogue, but also with the purpose of
completing the series which the author has already compiled, including
the opera, oratorio, cantata, and symphony. It has been somewhat
difficult to select from the "embarrassment of riches" in the material
offered by the profusion of operettas, musical comedies, and legitimate
light operas which have been produced during the last few years, and
which are still turned out with almost bewildering rapidity. Still more
difficult is it to determine accurately those among them which are
standard. A few of the lighter works which are contained in the original
edition of the "Standard Operas" have been recast, as they properly
belong in a work of this kind, and as they may answer the needs of those
who have not the former volume. The opera comique and the opera bouffe
are also represented by the best of their class, those whose text is
clearly objectionable being omitted. The entire list of the
characteristic and delightful operettas by the late Sir Alexander
Sullivan is included, and some of the musical comedies which have a
strong hold upon popular admiration. The operas have not been analyzed
with that closeness of detail which characterizes the "Standard Operas,"
as they do not call for treatment of that kind, and in many cases the
leading numbers are only suggested. They are described rather than
criticised, and as they have been compiled solely for the use of the
general public they have been presented as untechnically as possible.
They are intended to heighten popular enjoyment rather than to supply
information for musicians, and as a _vade mecum_ for the opera-goer
rather than a reference for the musical student.

                                                               G. P. U.

Chicago, August, 1902.




                                CONTENTS


                                                                  PAGE
  ADAM
      The Postilion of Lonjumeau                                    15
  AUBER
      Fra Diavolo                                                   19
      The Crown Diamonds                                            22
  AUDRAN
      Olivette                                                      26
      The Mascot                                                    29
  BALFE
      The Bohemian Girl                                             33
      The Rose of Castile                                           36
  BELLINI
      La Sonnambula                                                 40
  BENEDICT
      The Lily of Killarney                                         43
  BOIELDIEU
      La Dame Blanche                                               47
  CELLIER
      Dorothy                                                       50
  CHASSAIQUE
      Falka                                                         52
  DeKOVEN
      Robin Hood                                                    57
      Maid Marian                                                   60
      Rob Roy                                                       63
      The Fencing-Master                                            67
  DELIBES
      Lakme                                                         70
  DONIZETTI
      The Daughter of the Regiment                                  73
      Don Pasquale                                                  76
      Linda                                                         78
      The Elixir of Love                                            81
  EICHBERG
      The Doctor of Alcantara                                       84
  FLOTOW
      Martha                                                        87
      Stradella                                                     90
  GENEE
      Nanon                                                         93
  GOUNOD
      Mirella                                                       97
  HUMPERDINCK
      Hansel and Gretel                                            100
  JAKOBOWSKI
      Erminie                                                      103
  LECOCQ
      Girofle-Girofla                                              106
      La Fille de Madame Angot                                     109
  LOeRTZING
      Czar and Carpenter                                           113
  LUDERS
      King Dodo                                                    116
      The Prince of Pilsen                                         118
  MASSE
      Paul and Virginia                                            121
      Queen Topaze                                                 124
      The Marriage of Jeannette                                    126
  MILLOeCKER
      The Beggar Student                                           128
      The Black Hussar                                             131
  NESSLER
      The Trumpeter of Saekkingen                                   134
  NICOLAI
      The Merry Wives of Windsor                                   138
  OFFENBACH
      The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein                              141
      La Belle Helene                                              